Govt to ensure protection of journalists: Shazia Mari
KARACHI (April 18 2008): Provincial Minister for Information, Shazia Mari, has said that the Bill passed in relation to freedom of the Press by Sindh Assembly will be reviewed. Besides, further legislation will also be carried out to give journalists their due rights as envisioned in the constitution so that they get a conducive working environment.
“We are with the Press in their struggle for freedom”, she said in an interview with APP here on Thursday. She said the bill was passed without having the viewpoint of stake holders and without passing through various stages of legislation. She said we will not allow that kind of exercise and every legislation will be carried out with the involvement of stake holders.
She said the issue of Wage Board Award is also under consideration of the present government which will show no let-up to ensure that the journalists enjoy all privileges and opportunities.
“We condemn all those attitudes that were meted out to journalists in the past”, Information Minister said and assured that the steps this government is taking would help check acts of persecution of journalists.
They will be provided full protection so that they perform their responsibilities freely, she emphatically stated and hoped that media, both print and electronic too would discharge their responsibilities within their code of conduct.
Shaiza Mari said Sindh Government has taken over at a time when it is faced with scores of problems, which have piled up over the years. These include the issues of unemployment, atta crisis, inflation, provincial autonomy, NFC.
However, she declared, our government will leave no stone unturned to come up to the expectations and aspirations of people of Sindh who suffered from a sense of deprivation for the last 12 years.
She was more particular about provision of jobs to unemployed youth of Sindh without any discrimination and recalled that ILO had acknowledged the services of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in relation to her efforts for providing employment. “PPP will keep up that tradition in serving the cause of poor people of Sindh”, she announced. The Minister referred to the importance of Sindh Information Department and said in the past undemocratic eras, it was subjected to neglect.
Source: The Nation
Date:4/18/2008
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