[Press Release of PTI Core Committee] PTIs Core Committee, in its meeting on 24th April 2014, unequivocally condemned the targeted attack on Hamid Mir. The Core Committee felt such targeted attacks and threats to journalists were increasing with impunity as successive governments had continuously failed to bring the culprits to book, or even identify them in most cases. While the Core Committee emphatically opposed curbs on freedom of the press and closure of any TV channel, at the same time it regretted the tirade against Pakistans intelligence agency and military unleashed by the Geo/Jang group. While all state organs must be accountable and must work within the confines of the law and within democratic norms, it is unfortunate to see the targeting of the countrys premier intelligence agency and the military, and being subject to willful public accusations without any substantiation and proof. Other senior journalists have been targeted and innocent people have lost their lives but their media houses have not indulged in a concerted campaign in which the military and intelligence agencies are vilified. Such behaviour only plays into the hands of our enemies at a time when we are confronting an acute security situation on our Western border and internally, and in which thousands of brave soldiers have laid down their lives in the service of the country. PTI salutes all journalists for their courage in the face of an adverse working environment and for defending their rights. The media has gone through a brave struggle for its freedom and the Core Committee assures complete support in upholding the freedom and independence of the media. But the media must also now show it can use its freedom in a responsible and mature fashion. The Core Committee reiterated that with freedom comes responsibility and the media has a duty to not only hold the government and state accountable, it must itself behave in a responsible manner and be accountable. The Core Committee felt the government had tacitly allowed the situation to fester by either deliberately or otherwise showing utter confusion with each minister speaking a different language and the Prime Minister keeping a strange silence. This ambiguous behavior of the government raises serious questions not only about their intent but also their ability to govern. If the government had strengthened institutions and ensured their proper functioning, PEMRA would have fulfilled its mandate. It is also time, the Core Committee resolved, that the government stood up to its responsibility of protecting journalists and ensuring result-oriented and timely investigations are undertaken and the target killers nabbed. Shireen M Mazari Central Information Secretary
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 04:55:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015