Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday said constructive criticism from the media would help the government in improving its performance. Talking to a private TV channel, he urged media to play a positive and neutral role.
The Minister said media had played constructive role for the restoration of democracy, war against terrorism and in educating people by highlighting their issues. However, he urged media to tell the viewers both sides of the story. To a question, Kaira said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is supportive of freedom of the media. "The government had never imposed any restriction on media," he added.
The Minister said political institutions and media are growing in strength. He was of the view that television programmes should debate policies instead of discussing personalities. He asked the media to develop its own code of conduct. He said after taking over charge as minister, he had directed state run PTV to arrange programmes with an open mindset and even highlight shortcomings of the government.
To a question he said, Prime Minister and cabinet ministers had time and again clarified that Blackwater is not operating on Pakistan's soil, but media has still to believe what the government is saying. To another question, he said during an Iftar dinner with journalists, President, Asif Ali Zardari did not say that any deal was struck with former president Pervez Musharraf. He said, rather the President said that the government along with other political forces had sent Musharraf home.
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