Sindh Minister for Information Shazia Marri on Sunday said that people who want to use media or pressurise it for their own interests would not be allowed to do so in the tenure of the present government.
Addressing a press conference in Sindh Information Department here, she said that criticism is the right of the media, and the government would take it positively.
She said that the state was responsible providing protection and ensure freedom of press. Unfortunately, the media has not enjoyed such freedom in the history of Pakistan, she added. She said: "We can never forget the emergency when the media was stopped from conveying truth.
The minister said that the struggle for democracy had almost been completed, "but we are still striving for it." She noted that under Article-19 of the Constitution, press should have freedom. She said that the government has always considered the critical analysis of the media as guidance, "and we intend to further strengthen our relations with the media". About alleged attack on the office of Sindhi language newspaper 'Awami Awaz', she said: "If we remain silent on the attack on the office of one newspaper, then more such incidents can take place".
She said: "We don't have any personal difference with anyone, but the only interest of the government is the enforcement of law." The minister said that Article 25 of the Constitution provides equal rights to every citizen, as the Article reads: "All citizens are equal before the law, and law provides equal protection to all citizens".
"Violence against media will not be tolerated," she said, adding that this message "is not only for the President of Sindh National Front (SNF) Mumtaz Ali Bhutto but for everyone who wants to pressurises the media or intends to use it for own interests".
Regarding the attack on 'Awami Awaz' office, she said that action had been taken after a complaint ws received from aggrieved party. "The action has been taken in accordance with the complaint and in view of the resolution passed by All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS).
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