ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Thursday that the media was an important institution in a democracy and the government could not even think to gag it.
Replying to media persons questions during a press briefing about the Cabinet meeting here, Dr Firdous said that the present government after coming to power abolished black laws against the media.
She said, "The government cannot be blamed for an isolated incident in Karachi." She assured the journalists that the persons involved in the incident would be brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to dictate the media, she added.
"It is responsibility of the government to provide protection to the media community and no person irrespective of his or her political affiliations will be allowed to dictate the media", she said. The Information Minister said that she was going to hold a meeting with cable operators to sort out their problems.
About the launch of a special website to highlight government's four-year performance, she said the media could evaluate the government performance and give its feedback.
Replying to a question, she said that the trial of the accused of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's murder was continuing. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has always said that she was assassinated not by any individual but a mindset and it was an international conspiracy, she added.
She said that the case was also in the masses court who have rejected the terrorists, who have also been defeated by the government.
Dr. Firdous said that the Prime Minister had issued directives to all the ministers to visit all parts of the country and monitor ongoing projects of their respective ministries and address grievances of the party workers.
To a question, she said that the inflation and increasing prices of daily use items was a problem and the people's government could not neglect this issue. The government was taking all possible steps to provide relief to the masses, she added.
Whenever the oil prices increase internationally, the government has to pass on their impact to the consumers as it cannot cap oil prices for long, the minister added.
She said that the Prime Minister had directed that steps should be taken to provide jobs to the youth and for this purpose they would be given technical training so that they could be able to get suitable jobs not only in Pakistan but also overseas.
In this connection she specially mentioned the Wasila-e-Rozgar programme of the the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
About the consultation on the appointment of new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan, she said that after the passage of 20th Amendment, a meaningful consultation with the opposition leader has been made compulsory and the Prime Minister will hold such consultation at right time.
She said that the "role of the CEC will be very crucial as he will be responsible to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country."
She said that the Prime Minister held the Cabinet meeting before scheduled time as he would go to Korea in next few days. This should be considered an example of good governance, she added.
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