Voters list: opposition's reservations to be removed, says Mushahid

'If there was no mention of millions of voters in the new voters list, it was valid objection of the Opposition and the government will try to remove their reservations in this regard'.
This was stated by Senator Syed Mushahid Hussain, Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League-Q, while talking to mediamen after addressing a seminar on the topic of 'Journalism is the 4th pillar of state' organised by Punjab Union of Journalists, Dastoor Group, here at Lahore Press Club on Wednesday.
Mushahid Hussain maintained that media has played very positive role during judicial crisis, as it created consciousness among the people about situation.
Terming May 12, as black day in the country's history, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) leader said the government had committed a mistake by not allowing Chief Justice of Pakistan to address the lawyers. The government had to face outcome of this mistake.
Earlier addressing the seminar, Mushahid Hussain Syed who is former Editor of The Muslim, said that promulgation of Pemra Ordinance was a mistake and the government had admitted this mistake. Praising the role of Pakistani media in 2005 earthquake, Lebanon war and judicial crisis, he said that our media has attained independence due to its own struggle. Now no body can put restraints on media, he added. 'It was due to media that tolerance is increasing among the politicians, he said. Quoting a British journalist, Robert Fisc, Mushahid said that Pakistani media is more independent on international affairs as compared to American media.
The PML-Q Secretary General, however, said that our media is also facing threats from non-state actors for which the culture of tolerance and forgiveness must be created in the society.
He further said that credit goes to General Pervez Musharraf that he has given permission to around 50 TV channels during last few years, which created a changed environment in our society.
Talking about the working journalists, he stated that the newspaper owners were gaining prosperity while the working journalists were demanding implementation of wage board award. 'We want implementation of wage board award under the law', he said.
He invited the PUJ President S Amjad to come to Islamabad to negotiate with authorities concerned. Addressing the seminar, Dr Farid Ahmad Piracha, Deputy Secretary General Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan said that journalism is the 4th pillar of the state and journalists had proved this due to their heroic struggle. He criticised the government for snubbing the media and mediamen.