People and not media ultimate judge of government, parties: Gilani

07 Nov, 2010

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said people and not media are the best and ultimate judge to pass a final verdict and hold accountable the government and political parties. Addressing the participants of 4th National Conference organised by South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) here on Saturday, the Prime Minister said the primary and basic role of the media is to provide news and information to the people in a fair and objective manner.
"Media's professionalism gets hugely compromised when it resorts to speculations that create fear and panic among the public," he said, adding that "media should not try to become a creator of news and act as a judge." Gilani said, "people are the best and ultimate judge who have the requisite credentials and qualities to pass a final verdict and hold any individual, party and government accountable for their actions."
"The trend of being the king-maker, which is manifestly present in a section of press, should end," he asserted. Gilani said, "All of us need to learn and respect each other's defined responsibilities. This is how institutions grow through evolution. We should give democracy chance to develop into a sustainable system capable of addressing people's problems."
He pointed out that speculations and self-styled analyses impact negatively upon economy by creating an impression of political instability. "Does the cause of democracy and institution-building gets advanced when a section of press becomes a party and keeps giving deadline about the ouster of government?" He asked.
The Premier said, "It is about time we rise above our parochial agendas and think in larger national interest." The Prime Minister said the parameters of the proposal of the national agenda given by Mian Nawaz Sharif would be discussed when its details are shared. "It might require taking all the stakeholders on board to develop consensus on the ideas and policies in the larger interest of the people of Pakistan."

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