=> ISLAMABAD (December 14 2007): Information Minister
ISLAMABAD (December 14 2007): Information Minister Nisar Memon wished that the media would come forward to create healthy conditions for holding the next year’s general election, while it was business of the fully independent election commission to conduct fair election.
The minister implied that shouts and demonstration vitiates the atmosphere during election campaign. Many sitting in the audience thought that while stating this Memon might be taking a dig at media personnel.
The minister spoke on Thursday morning to a gathering of more than 150 APP correspondents and stringers working in regional areas outside the capital city. Secretary of the Ministry Anwar Mahmood was also present at the function. The object of the meeting was to sensitise APP journalists to fully cover the election campaign without showing bias or leaning on any side.
Memon reiterated that the caretaker cabinet was tasked to ensure that the election takes place in a free and fair atmosphere and without rancour or ill will and asked the media to share this responsibility along with others.
At the same time, he reiterated that the election would be fair and transparent and the caretaker cabinet would ensure that fairness.
The APP correspondents working outside the federal capital were summoned to a meeting to sensitise them about reporting the general election and charged to send their dispatches, photos and video clips truthfully, without showing bias or leaning on any side.
Decrying all those who complained about undemocratic atmosphere or about loss of media freedom in the country, Minister Memon said Pakistan was well on a journey towards genuine democracy, despite the short breach of November 3. Even this short deviation from the democratic path would be over within the next two days with the withdrawal of both PCO and emergency, he said.
He also reasoned that even during this interim period (after November 3) the democratic institutions of the Parliament and the President have remained in place, and that the President stood as the symbol of integration for the country.
Speaking about rights of press and media, he said there is full freedom. ‘The law is the same for every TV channel. Even the lone channel, holding out from resuming transmission, could do so right from this day. All it has to do is to subscribe to the same law in the precedent of other channels.’
In this regard he also referred to the complaints of time-delays, but remarked it was done thing every where. ‘The delay did not prolong to more than a few seconds, or at best an hour. But this is the done thing in other countries to save viewers from cultural shock and other profanities. He also gave the example of a TV clip showing a disrobed woman and that led to payment of million of dollars for damage claim. ‘We want to prevent that sort of thing happening here.’
In the morning session, secretary election commission gave account of the efforts being made for holding free, fair and transparent election. Caretaker Minister Ansar Burney reminded APP personnel of the government commitment to remain absolutely neutral during the campaign and on the election day.
APP MD Rai Riaz said that more than 772 APP correspondents, reporters, stringers and photographers will be assigned news gathering task, and for sending photos and TV video clips during the election campaign and for coverage on the election day. He advised them to send truthful account of the situation on ground.
He said that APP is focusing on video news services and also issuing features about the election campaign and many of these stories were being used by newspapers.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:12/14/2007
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