No compromise on media freedom, says Memon
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon Sunday said there would be no compromise over the media freedom and the discussions are on to resolve the media-related issues.
“The media freedom is intact and it would stay. There would be no compromise over it. However, the media should abide by the code of conduct as this practice would ensure responsible media,” said the Minister while talking to the journalists after the concluding ceremony of Subah-e-Nau, National Bank National Tennis Tournament held here at the Islamabad Club. The Minister said the government is committed to resolving the problems being faced by the working journalists. He said he had held a meeting with the executive committee of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Sunday during which he had asked the PFUJ to provide lists of all the cases registered against journalists so as the respective provincial governments could be involved to resolve such cases, if any.
The Information Minister said the delegation told the Minister that the journalist community had no connection with a pamphlet published against a national institution and distributed in the federal capital. Elaborating the steps taken by the caretaker government for a media-friendly environment, the Minister said almost all the electronic channels have gone on air and the discussions are continuing with the authorities of a television channel.
To a question, the Minister said all the political parties were equal to the caretaker government and it was ensuring the provision of equal coverage to all the political parties. The Minister said the reports of the political parties taking part in the polls were positive as most of parties had fielded their candidates for the upcoming polls. He said the caretaker government hoped that all parties would take part in the upcoming polls so that the people would have choice to vote for any party.
He said holding the polls was the responsibility of election commission which was an autonomous body. He said the caretaker government would ensure provision of safe and enabling environment to the voters so as they could vote without any pressure.
The Minister said the election commission had introduced transparent ballot boxes for the first time in the presidential polls to ensure transparency in the polling process. Earlier, while addressing the prize distribution ceremony held for the tennis tournament, the Minister said the sports were a part of healthy activity in the society and the government would fully support such positive exercise.
Reiterating his full assistance to the sports events, the Minister said the state media would provide full coverage to the sports activities. He urged the sportspersons to come forth and use the state media for promotion of sports so as the healthy trends could flower in the society.
He said tennis was a growing sport in Pakistan and younger generations were taking keen interest in this field. Paying tributes to Senator Dilawar Abbas for the promotion of tennis, the Minister said the caretaker government would fully assist the private sector to upgrade the sports infrastructure in the country.