Govt believes in freedom of media: Firdous

The SAPM said that 22-year political struggle of PM Imran Khan was based on the rule of law.

ISLAMAABD (Web Desk) – Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq says the government strictly believes in freedom of media and is taking all out steps to facilitate the media community.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, she said rule of law and empowering state institutions is the essence of Prime Minister Imran Khan s 22-years long struggle.

The special assistant said state institutions are playing their unbiased role under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, however she regretted that to link the arrest of a media owner by NAB with the freedom of media is unethical.

The SAPM said that 22-year political struggle of Prime Minister Imran Khan was based on the rule of law and Constitution, strengthening of institutions and implementation of law on all citizens irrespective of their status.

She said that during the PTI tenure, national institutions had become vibrant and they were now performing their duties independently.

She said that Mir Shakilur Rehman had been arrested by NAB in connection with a case related to taking undue favours from a former prime minister and chief minister. She said that as now the matter was subjudice, it was not justified to hold “media courts” on the issue as it tantamount to an attempt to influence the judges of the court.

She said that both the parties should present their evidences in the court of law and media debate on the issue should be avoided.

She said that the government had come to know about the arrest of Mir Shakil from the media, and did not react as the matter related to NAB, which was an independent institution.

However, she said now the government was compelled to clarify its position as the said media group was trying to malign the Prime Minister and defame the PTI government by claiming victimization on the part of the government.

She asked the concerned media house to also highlight the version of the government in this case.

She said that the people had voted Imran Khan to power for ensuring rule of law in the country as promised in PTI manifesto.

To a question, she said that the country was moving towards a national narrative on Coronavirus and efforts were being made to overcome this issue with the cooperation of the provincial government.

She said that this pandemic has become an international problem and it has health, economic and social and connectivity challenges.