Body formed to look into ‘misuse of press freedom’
KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza and Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani said in the Sindh Assembly on Monday that the issue of an alleged “campaign against Senior Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq by a private TV channel” and raising of slogans against him from the press gallery in the house should be taken up with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association.
Endorsing the views expressed by MPA Sharjeel Memon, who had raised the issue on a point of order, they said the association should be asked to ensure that the freedom of expression was not misused and the relevant code of conduct was adhered to by media organisations.
Mr Haq, who is also PPP’s parliamentary party leader, spoke on a point of explanation and apprised the house of the background of the alleged campaign.
He said it was aimed to blackmail him.
The senior minister called for setting up a committee to take up the matter with the association and also a house press gallery committee to ensure that media personnel maintained decorum while covering the proceedings.
On his suggestion, Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro formed a committee comprising Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali and Deputy Leader of the MQM parliamentary party Faisal Sabzwari to take up the matter with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association. About the issue of raising slogans from the press gallery, he said he himself would speak to journalists covering the proceedings.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/29/2010
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