Karachi: Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon directed the inspector-general of the Sindh police and the Karachi police chief to take stern action against elements involved in torturing journalists outside the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) on Saturday.

A handout quoted him as saying that the government would not allow any sort of restriction on the freedom of journalists, and people involved in the torture incident would be taken to task without any discrimination.

It said that as media reports emerged regarding police personnel in civvies resorting to manhandling newsmen, especially cameramen, the outside high court premises, the minister contacted the Sindh and Karachi police chiefs and secured information about the incident.

Memon said the PPP had always believed in the media freedom and held high its cause whether it was democratic or autocratic rule in the country.

He said the PPP had never tried to stifle the voice of media as in fact it was the party, which rendered maximum sacrifices for freedom of media. He said that PPP would always be at the forefront for the cause of freedom of media.

The News

The post Sharjeel orders stern action over torture of journalists appeared first on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he said private media has to embark upon the course of self-accountability while media outlets are also required to do their work in the righteous manner.

He said that Geo News had a very antagonistic stance towards the past government of the PPP and unduly subjected that government to media trial.

He said that the Geo News despite ruling status of PPP in the past ranked his party as fourth position among popular and major political parties of the province.

Memon said that no media group or television channel should have the right to rank political parties on basis

of their perceived popularity instead the media should

objectively report on issues concerning the public interests.

Giving reaction on behalf of provincial government on the issue of exclusion of 11 major development schemes of Sindh from upcoming federal government’s budget for financial year 2014-15, the minister said the federal government should shun its ‘dictatorial and discriminatory’ policies and steps against Sindh as the provincial government would never accept injustices to its people.

Memon said that the federal government had been subjecting Sindh to step-motherly treatment and the way people of the province and its government were being treated, showed well the dictatorial mindset and tendencies of the incumbent federal government.

He said it seemed that the PML-N government in the Centre had started penalising people of Sindh as the latter had rejected it in the last general elections.

He said the Pakistan People’s Party had always promoted politics of reconciliation in the country for the sake of strengthening of democracy.

Memon said the federal government had been constantly ignoring needs of Sindh and had not been providing due share of the province in accordance with the award of National Finance Commission.

He said that the Sindh government had already slashed its allocations for development funds for the cause of restoration of law and order situation in Karachi.

He said that the prime minister should rise to the occasion and instead of considering himself ruler of any particular province or of a city, he should consider and act in a manner that he was prime minister of the entire country.

To a question, the minister said that in case former military ruler Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf would be allowed to leave the country then the responsibility of such an act would rest fully with the judiciary and the federal government.

To another question, he said the PPP would never become part of any emerging grand opposition alliance in the country as the PPP itself was a formidable political force which could fight well against all the conspiracies being hatched against its existence.

The News

According to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader part of the said conspiracy is the appointment of an election commissioner who belongs to Punjab. Memon stated clearly that he was against this appointment.

He was addressing the haleem party of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) at Arts Council Karachi and the gathering was held to give cash awards to the families of its members who lost their lives or got injured in bomb blasts, while performing their duties as reporters or cameramen.

The gathering was also addressed by Provincial Minister for Youth Affairs Faisal Subzwari, KUJ President GM Jamali, Federal Union of Journalists General Secretary Amin Yousuf, KUJ General Secretary Fahim Siddiqui and senior journalist and editor of daily Express Tahir Najmi. The meeting also offered fateha for the departed souls of provincial minster Bashir Ahmed Bilour and mother of Amin Yousuf.

Memon said that terrorists were a threat to the whole nation. He said all political parties and civil society should jointly fight against the menace. He was of the view that Bashir’s death was a great loss to Pakistan and democracy and the attackers belong to the same group that attacked Benazir Bhutto.

The information minister appreciated the efficiency of the KUJ and said that by providing Rs50 million and land for flats to the organisation, the government has done nothing more than what was its duty.

He said that the journalist community has always worked with the PPP in its struggle for restoration of democracy. He said that in dangerous circumstances, media personnel are at the highest risk and, therefore, life insurance scheme is being introduced for them.

The PPP leader said that all the journalists of Sindh will be issued smart cards for their insurance.

Pakistan Press Foundation