Government Spokesman Rejects Green Press Report on Media Freedom 2000-2001

Following is the reaction of the Pakistan Government Spokesman. A high-ranking official of the Ministry of Information and Media Development was invited at the launch of the Report on May 3, 2001. He defended the governmental policies and actions from the podium. The issuance of the Press Release below came as a surprise to us and we think that the Report has been misread by the Ministry.

"ISLAMABAD, May 5: A spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Media Development has strongly denied the contents of a report released by the Green Press, Pakistan, a group of Pakistani journalists, dedicated to promotion of environmental issues through the media.

He expressed great surprise and dismay at what he called a completely fabricated charge that publications in Pakistan continue to be censored, suspended and closed down through Government actions. Even the worst critics of the Government openly concede today that the Press in Pakistan has been allowed unfettered freedom and the question of any censorship, therefore, does not arise, he declared.

He regretted that certain organizations in the non-governmental sector were trying to project Pakistan in an adverse light even in areas where the country had impeccable record.

The Spokesman emphasized that an odd incident of violence here and there against any newsman or publication by private individuals or groups could not be described as actions of policies of the Government.

The temporary closure of the office of The Frontier Post and daily Maidan in Peshawar, he said, was to provide safety and protection to these two publications against public anger due to an act committed by The Frontier Post, which was condemned even by the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE).

It goes to the credit of this government, the spokesman said, that both the publications were subsequently allowed to resume publication once the local administration had taken necessary steps for their safety and security.

The torching of The Business Recorder office in Karachi last year was also a spontaneous action by an unruly mob protesting on an issue that had no concern with the newspapers, the spokesman recalled. It was an unfortunate incident, which was roundly condemned by the Government, he said.

As for the bomb blast at the printing facility of the daily Nawa-i-Waqat in Karachi last year, the spokesman reminded that various administrative measurers taken by the Government resulted in the arrest of certain persons who have since been charged with the offence.

The spokesman regretted that while the international media organizations had publicly acknowledged the freedom of Press in Pakistan and had commended the present regime of making that possible, certain organizations in the country thought it fit to trump up baseless accusations of Press Censorship and actions against newspapers in Pakistan, the motives for such reports and accusations were incomprehensible, the spokesman said and reaffirmed the Government's continued commitment to the freedom of the Press and liberalization of the state media."

 

© Green Press 2001-2002