Taking strong exception to the appointment of Mubassahir Lucman as Advisor in the Information Ministry, the Senate Standing Committee on Information in its meeting held on Wednesday appointed a four-member sub-committee to look into the issue whether a caretaker minister was within its rights to make appointments.
The meeting of the Committee was held in the Parliament House here. The issue was raised by Muhammad Enver Baig and Saadia Abbasi. Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar will head the sub-committee which include Senators Mir Naseer Mengal, Tariq Azeem Khan and Dr Javed Laghari. The sub-committee was directed to report the matter in 15 days.
Despite the observation, Information Minister Nisar A Memon and Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mahmood proceeded to provide the rationale of appointment of Lucman as Advisor in MP-I. Earlier, the Committee with Senator Liaquat Bangalazai observed that the government media must perform the duty of bringing objectivity and credibility to its work.
The official media must also uphold freedom of speech as well as ensure fair, balanced and objective coverage to all political parties, said members of the Committee laying down a operational framework for official media which must handle the additional task to bring about national integration and also improve people's condition.
The Committee also tasked government to project good image of the country abroad, and welcomed opening up of APP, PTV, and the Radio as a healthy trend. In fact launch of new electronic channels would provide a path towards the public right to know, as well as reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people, it said.
Independent media shapes the nation's destiny and on the other hand biased and incorrect information destroys that prospect, Bungulzai said. In the meeting, heads of APP, PTV and PBC also made comprehensive presentations about their respective organisations.