Government describes RSF report as contrary to facts
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—An official spokesman here expressed disagreement to an RSF (Reporters Sans Frontiers) report placing Pakistan on 152nd position in the press freedom index, and said, it ignored a number of factors which actually helped determine the level of press freedom in any country.
The spokesman said, the RSF allegation that the government “prevented the electronic media from working freely” in Pakistan was contrary to the facts. The media, he said, enjoyed complete freedom to report any news or views. “It was actually the present government which paved the way for opening up electronic media in the country.”
The spokesman said presence of almost 80 TV and over a 100 FM channels in the country, is a clear manifestation of the government’s media friendly policy. “Freedom of press was guaranteed by the constitution and press was at liberty to criticize the government at will,” the spokesman added. He said due to the government’s encouragement, media had achieved such a high level of credibility that viewers and listeners do not bother to tune to foreign networks and prefer to turn to the Pakistani channels for news and views.The spokesman further stated that every country and society has its own socio-cultural milieu and national ethos and it is not appropriate to interpret the value system of a society in comparison with others.
The people of Pakistan, he said, have a particular set of perceptions about their lives and conduct and added, it seems that the data providing the basis of the RSF report has been compiled from a different perspective which is not applicable to Pakistan. The spokesman said Pakistan enjoyed far greater freedom of expression than claimed by the co-called democracies of the world. He said the fact remains that during the tenure of the present government, media in Pakistan has enjoyed unprecedented freedom. “So much so, that the print media have also been allowed to set up TV channels, a right which is not available even in a number of democratic countries.” The spokesman hoped that the RSF reports in future would encompass the views of the cross sections of the Pakistani society rather than depending heavily on isolated press reports.
The media, he said, enjoyed complete freedom to report any news or views. “It was actually the present government which paved the way for opening up electronic media in the country.”