Kaira urges media to keep national interest supreme
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Monday said the media while using it right to freedom of expression should keep the national interests supreme in its coverage of the comments of certain individuals.
In a telephonic interview to PTV, he said the democratic government adheres to its commitment to freedom of expression but it is the responsibility of the media also to evolve a code of conduct for itself. The Minister said that the country was passing through a critical period of its history and the stakeholders were expected to play positive role at this particular juncture.
He said that after the acceptance of his demand with regard to imposition of Nizam-e-Adal in Malakand division, Maulana Sufi Muhammad was expected to remain within the framework of the agreement. However if he has uttered some words against democracy, it was his personal view and may be the view of his followers in limited areas, the Minister said.
The overwhelming majority in Pakistan is pro-democracy and they have been struggling hard for this cause, he added. The Minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari was earlier criticized by certain quarters for delaying the signing of Nizam-e-Adl regulation.
The President had genuine reservations that no agreement can yield the desired results unless the law and order situation is brought under control, he said. Now that the demand for Nizam-e-Adl has been fulfill all stakeholders should demonstrate wisdom and avoid indulging in unnecessary debate that may create uncertainty in the country.
The Minister said it is an internationally accepted view that in the prevailing world order, democracy is the best system to run the state affairs. To a question he said it is envisaged in the constitution of Pakistan that no legislation contrary to Islamic teaching would be made in country, adding that no individual has the right to meddle with the functioning of state and its institutions working in line with the constitution.
To another question the Minister said that maintaining law and order is the responsibility of provincial governments and it was under the request of a provincial government that central government approved the Nizam-e-Adl regulation. He said the regulation was approved to enable the provincial government to maintain law and order under its jurisdiction and one hopes for the success of the initiative.
Source: The Frontier Post
Date:4/21/2009
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