Updated on
Summary
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday reiterated that the government believed in freedom of expression but controversial news reporting about national offices and the honorable judiciary should be avoided to retain prestige of the prime institutions. A section of the press has already been engaged in certain reporting against the national offices and this time a report was filed against the Supreme Court, he said while talking to reporters at the Parliament House. The minister said controversial news reports concerning the national institutions including the judiciary should be avoided, he added. I myself and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government always respect the judiciary and as far as my Tuesdays statement is concerned, it only aimed at creating realization about responsible journalism regarding judicial matters, Kaira said. Sensible reporting on matters of prime national interest and about the pillars of the democracy was necessary to strengthen the institutions and help them in smooth functioning, the minister said.We were part of the movement for restoration of democracy as well as freedom of the media. We were also baton charged like you. Therefore, there is no question of any controversial comments on any pillar of the state, Kaira said. Replying to a question about implementation of Supreme Courts judgement on National Reconciliation Order, Kaira said that the government obeyed all orders of the apex court and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had already made it clear that the government would go by the rules when detailed judgement is issued. To another query, the minister said that the PPP has already withdrawn its candidate in favour of PML-N in NA-55 Rawalpindi. However, controversial comments of the Nawaz League leaders about our leadership can divert PPP workers support towards Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, he added. The minister said that PPP supported working journalists rights and preparation of Eighth Wage Board was already underway. We are waiting for Sindh High Court decision over the Wage Board and as soon as the decision is issued, the government machinery will move to implement it, he said.
