Government to uphold press freedom
ISLAMABAD- A spokesman of the government said that it would continue to uphold the freedom and independence of the press.
The spokesman, in a statement took strong exception to the contention of a news reporters organisations namely “The Reporters sans Frontiers” (RSF) that the chief reporter of an Urdu daily was shifted from reporting on alleged pressure from the Press Information Department.
The spokesman categorically said: “No government official ever contacted the management of the Urdu daily in this regard.”
Quoting the contents of the letter issued by the RSF, the spokesman said that it was strange that even after the management of the concerned newspaper had itself unequivocally denied any pressure from the government for the shifting of their chief reporter to an assignment at the desk, the RSF was still willing to comment on the allegations against the government.
The spokesman reiterated that the government in Pakistan was committed to the freedom of the press.
“The track record of the last 20 months of present government’s relations with the press is testimony to the fact that the press in Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom,” the spokesman said.
He stressed that the government firmly believed in staying absolutely clear regarding the internal affairs of the newspapers, including their management and policy.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/29/2001
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