Positive coverage by English dailies encourage me: Nilofar
ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar said she was hurt at the way her paragliding jump in France was sensationalized and some elements indulged in her character assassination.
Speaking at the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Tourism the minister said she risked her life by jumping from a height of over 8,000 feet for a noble cause.
“I had made a commitment to paraglide for the earthquake victims when I was not a federal minister to raise funds for the construction of 15 schools in the quake affected areas,” she said.
She said that now she feared for her life.
“I have strengthened my security after fatwa from the so-called Shariat court and killing of Punjab provincial minister Zil-e-Humma.”
Nilofar said that former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan also jumped to raise donations for Tsunami victims on the request of the same French paragliding team with whom she had jumped in France.
“French media praised my daring attempt but unfortunately some irresponsible elements here presented this noble cause in a malicious manner,” she added.
The minister said the caption given to the picture was totally out of context.
“The instructor is a senior and respectable French citizen who appreciated me for my successful attempt,” she added.
Nilofar said that character assassination has done irreparable loss to her family and grown-up children, adding the publication of this picture after a gap of month is deliberate attempt to tarnish her character.
However, the minister said that positive and balanced coverage by Pakistani English papers has encouraged her to continue social welfare activities vigorously.
Source: Nation
Date:4/16/2007
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