In a separate statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists said that it’s alarmed by the continuing violence directed at journalists in Pakistan.

Also, in a joint resolution, Washington-based Pakistani journalists demanded protection for their colleagues in Pakistan and urged the government to catch those responsible for the attack on Hamid Mir.

“The US condemns the vicious attack on television journalist Hamid Mir in Karachi on Saturday, the latest in a series of worrisome attacks on journalists in Pakistan,” said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki.

“Freedom of the press, including ensuring that journalists can safely carry out their vital mission, is of paramount importance to freedom of expression and to the healthy functioning of any democracy,” she said.

She also referred to a recent statement by the US Ambassador in Islamabad, Richard Olson, who said that attacks like these should be a wake-up call to all who value democracy in Pakistan.

Wishing Hamid Mir a speedy recovery, Ms Psaki urged the government of Pakistan to bring all those responsible for these attacks on the media to justice.

“The attack on Hamid Mir is an indicator that the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has not been able to reverse the country’s appalling record of violence against journalists, despite pledges to do so,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator.

“Full prosecution of the perpetrators of such crimes is the only answer to reversing this history. Police must act swiftly and decisively in this and all cases that have been building up for years in Pakistan. And the country’s media must use their capabilities to pursue their own investigations, as well as pressure the government to take action,” Mr Dietz said.

At an emergency meeting in Washington, US-based Pakistani journalists passed a four-point resolution, demanding that the government and media organisations should take immediate precautionary measures to protect journalists.

They also urged journalist organisations to push aside their differences and publish a policy paper outlining the measures they think could protect working journalists from such attacks. They reminded journalists and media organisations that terrorist groups often use them for propagating their views and urged them to stop publicising statements and press releases by groups involved in attacks on journalists.

DAWN

According to a statement of the US embassy, Olson discussed issues of press freedom and dangers to journalists in Pakistan. In his remarks to the group, Ambassador Olson said, “We are alarmed and deplore the increased attacks on journalists in Pakistan. The most recent attack against one of Pakistan’s most well regarded journalists, who has been a staunch defender of fundamental democratic freedoms including freedom of the press here, should be a wake-up call to all who value democracy in this country. A free media is a key ingredient of democracy, and allows for a healthy national discussion on shaping a peaceful future for the country. Everyone must do more to defend these courageous voices against those who seek to silence them.”

This US embassy-sponsored Pakistan-US Journalists Exchange programme is designed to increase and deepen public understanding of the two countries and their relationship. The journalists are meeting with Pakistani government officials, media, and representatives from the private sector and non-government organisations in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

The Nation

“US embassy desires that journalists not ask questions on political and security fronts and focus only on energy, economy, investment and bilateral trade,” reporters who met Olson on Thursday were warned before the meeting.

The drone strike in Hangu was the first in a settled city and came on the day when every newspaper in the country had quoted the National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz in headlines that US had assured that drones would not be used when talks with TTP are going on.

But the envoy was still asked how the US was expecting long-term and sustainable relations with Pakistan keeping in view the political and security issues (meaning obviously the drone strikes), the ambassador replied that there was a lot of room for growth in bilateral relations between the two countries.

On other issues Ambassador Richard Olson said Washington was discussing civil nuclear energy cooperation on separate diplomatic channel on the request and desire of the Pakistani side. “We have recognised that both sides were discussing civil nuclear energy cooperation on desire and request of Pakistani side,” the US ambassador said while briefing the select group of reporters here at the US embassy.

He said that in the Energy Working Group deliberations held in Washington and Houston last week aimed at bringing efficiency in energy sector, keen interest was shown by US companies to export LNG to Pakistan and establish cooperation for changing the energy mix in the country.

The US ambassador said that Washington was committed to provide 50 percent assistance under Kerry Lugar Law (KLL) on budget while remaining 50 percent would be given off budget on different projects undertaken with this money.

He said that Pakistani government possessed ambitious plan for privatisation and keeping in view ups and downs in relations between two sides on account of political and security related difficulties and complex situation, the bilateral relations should also be privatised to establish business to business contacts. Pakistan, he said, is a large market and is likely to touch 300 million people by middle of this century having English speaking workforce. “The security is a challenge for US companies,” he said and added that US companies were committed to invest in Pakistan keeping in view economic incentives where repatriation of profits were allowed from the country.

To another query regarding changes in mechanism for reimbursement of Coalition Support Fund (CSF), Richard Olson said that the mechanism had been streamlined to reduce disagreement and it was a change brought on Pakistan’s request.

In the past, he said, there were some disagreements and now it was streamlined. He said that he did not know how much amount US would reimburse in the current fiscal year, adding that Washington released $322 million for last quarter and the remaining bills would also be released on quarterly basis.

When asked about US opposition to Pak-Iran gas pipeline, he said that they discussed in general the TAPI project which had started gaining momentum.

He said that opposition to IP gas pipeline was well known. It would be premature to discuss possibility of lifting US sanctions on Iran keeping in view ongoing dialogue at different international forums. “The sanctions on Iran were likely to remain there,” he added. He said that TAPI project was included on short-term basis for meeting energy requirements of the country.

Dwelling upon details of last week deliberation held in Washington by the Energy Working Group under strategic dialogue in Houston, the ambassador said that US was committed to undertake refurbishment of Mangla Dam after accomplishing this task in Tarbela.

US, he said, was providing assistance to Pakistan’s power sector for placing smart meters in order to curtail theft.

Since 2009, US extended assistance to overhaul power sector and added 1,000 MW electricity into grid while another 200 MW will be added in the months ahead. He said that US Congress had approved technical assistance for Basha Dam. Terming PM Sharif’s visit to US as successful, he said that the premier met with President Obama and half of cabinet members during his official visit.

On a question regarding Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), he said that they viewed that both sides had arrived on consensus document but Pakistan required more consultations and they were waiting for their response.

The News

“I want to make it very clear that the US government strongly support your efforts to provide the people of Pakistan with credible and informed analysis of Pakistan’s democratic future. Pakistanis are calling for transparent, free, and fair elections as the nation moves towards the first peaceful transition to civilian power in Pakistan’s history. As journalists, you will play a central role in that transformative moment,” Richard Olson said this while addressing to the opening ceremony of the US-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism “Alumni Media Summit” on Thursday organised by International Center of Journalists in collaboration with US Embassy Islamabad.

He said that the US government invests nearly $30 million annually in exchange programs with Pakistanis. More than 1,000 Pakistanis participate in various high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional US-sponsored exchange programs each year.

The US Ambassador said that the relationship between the people of the United States and the people of Pakistan is strong. Much of this is due to many people-to-people connections, we have established with Pakistanis like you, he said.

He added that the US-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism Program creates understanding and builds bridges between our two countries through people-to-people connections. He said that more than 70 journalists from various TV, radio, and print outlets across Pakistan gathered in Islamabad for a three-day media summit. He said that the journalists are alumni of a US government-funded exchange program known as the “US-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism.”

The US Ambassador said while addressing the summit, “first, you learn about the United States by experiencing it first-hand. You work side-by-side with American journalists in news organisations across America. You come away with new ideas for reporting in Pakistan based on your experience in US newsrooms, he said.

Richard Olson said that second, Americans learn from you and during your time in the United States, you teach Americans about Pakistani politics, society, and culture. You are the Pakistan ‘expert” for your American friends and colleagues, he said. He said that third, American journalists learn about Pakistan by exchange visits like the group we have here tonight from the United States. Through their interaction with you and other Pakistanis, they develop a much better understanding and appreciation of the people and the issues, he said.

“Finally, you develop your journalism skills. During this conference you will learn from American and Pakistani experts in the field, and they will learn from you. While addressing the opening session of “Alumni Media Summit” Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting said that the foreign media particularly western media should portray true picture of Pakistan. He said that foreign media is not highlighting true picture about Pakistan. “I have great confidence and I am thankful to foreign media persons who came here to have the real picture of Pakistan, he said.

He said that most of the society of Pakistan is enlightened and moderate. Few elements are hard-liners who are a friction of the society. Pakistan is fighting against terrorism and it is big victim of the menace. “You go back and tell the real picture of Pakistan and Islam to the world. Islam gives the message of peace and love. The people of Pakistan want peace,” he added.

The Minister said, “We have different cultures and values. But there is need to understand and respect the values of each other. We should see in-depth the culture of each country. “The Minister said that democracy is flourishing in Pakistan and first time a democratic government would transfer its power to other democratic government after holding free, fair and transparent elections. “We are in transition period. The PPP-Government will hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country,” he said.
He said that we are in favour of freedom of speech, expression and media. Media of Pakistan is flourishing. The media should set precedent of responsibility and ownership. He further said that the ups and down have come in Pak-US relations. He said that people to people contact would strengthen the Pak-US relations. We have to work together and no country can isolate us from rest of the world.

Pakistan Press Foundation