Updated on
Summary Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said democracy cant take roots without independent media.
He was addressing the participants of a seminar organised by UNESCO on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day in Islamabad on Thursday.He said that government firmly believes that without independent media‚ democracy cannot take roots in the society.The Minister said the PPP believes that unless we have free media it will not be possible to sustain and develop the democratic norms.He pointed out that it was for the first time in countrys history that the right to information had been ensured to citizens through the passage of 18th Amendment.He stressed that media freedom should also bring responsibility as there is no concept of freedom without responsibility.Minister Kaira said three other pillars of state - judiciary‚ executive and parliament work under some code and media should also adopt some code of conduct for its working. The minister said despite the fact that a section of press is indulged in mudslinging against the PPP leadership‚ the government has not taken any action against it.Director-General Radio Pakistan Murtaza Solangi spoke on Responsibility of State Broadcasters: To inform about things that can and should be done by Media Organizations to address the issue of safety of Journalists.He pointed out that Radio Pakistan and PTV have been victim of self-censorship but things have now started to change. He said different shades of opinion including the opposition are getting time in state-run media organizations.
