No plan to rein in media, clarifies Firdous

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday‚ she said the government considers media as an institution and nothing will be imposed on it. She said the proposed Content Regulations envisages recommendations for religious programmes as well as protection of ethical and social values.She emphasized that the regulations are aimed at preserving the sanctity of religions‚ ethical values‚ morality and decency.Firdous Ashiq Awan said the media enjoys unprecedented freedom in the country and the government has no intentions to impose curbs on it. She said credit goes to the present government for abolishing all the draconian and black laws against the media and providing it the necessary oxygen to operate freely.Rejecting the allegations that government is bringing in regulations to choke the voice of the media‚ Firdous Ashiq Awan said the government has always supported healthy debate and mechanism of accountability in the society for strengthening democratic norms in the country.She pointed out that eighty nine Pakistani channels and twenty six foreign channels are currently operating in the country which necessitated bringing in a new code of conduct for them. She said the code of conduct introduced in 2002 was not implemented in letter and spirit due to different hiccups.