By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem on Tuesday said that media was totally free in Pakistan and there was no state control over it.
Talking to a delegation of Qatar media, which called on him here, he said that it was a political season in Pakistan and the newspapers and TV news channels were providing more space to the opposition parties than the government.
The minister said that there was a boom in both print and electronic media in Pakistan, adding that 50 channels were operating in the private sector, including five globally while more licenses were being granted.
He said that all this was possible only due to the stable economic policies of the present government as economic and media boom were inter-linked.
Tariq Azeem told the delegation that as this was the election year in Pakistan therefore major focus of the world was on Pakistan.
He said that foreign observers would be invited to cover the forthcoming general elections in Pakistan. He said the foreign observers would have an access to make fair assessment of the election process, which he said would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The minister said it would happen for the first time in country’s history that the elected institutions including national and provincial assemblies would complete their tenure.
He said that Election Commission of Pakistan would announce date for the election of the President any time between September 16 to October 14 this year. He said that election of the President from the present assemblies was legal and constitutional.
The minister further said that Pakistan suffered a lot in the war against terrorism. Pakistan had to deploy 80,000 troops on the Afghan border and suffered more casualties than the allied forces.
He said Pakistan wanted peace in Afghanistan as it was in the interest of our country and always desired to see a prosperous and stable neighboring state.
The members of the delegation said that freedom of press enjoyed by Pakistan during the last five years was not properly projected and showcased in the west which, they were of view was unprecedented in this country.
On this point, the Minister expressed that the contribution of Pakistan in the war against terror was also not properly projected in foreign press.
The minister assured that the ministry of information would facilitate the Qatar media in the discharge of professional duty during the forthcoming polls.
About the visas facilities, the minister told them that visas applications would be expedited while multi-entry visas could also be considered.
Tariq Azeem lauded the role of Al-Jazeera television and said that it has become one of the leading channels in the world.
Members of the delegation thanked the minister for assuring them facilities during their coverage of the forthcoming elections. The delegation included Mr. Neil Cook, managing editor, Gulf Times, John Pullman, head of output, Al- Jazeera (English Channel), James Bayes, roving correspondent, Al- Jazeera (English channel), Sohail Rahman, South Asia reporter and news presenter, Al-Jazeera and Khalid Abdullah Abdul Aziz Ziarah, senior journalist of daily Al-Sharq.
Additional Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Fazal-ur-Rehman Malik and Principal Information Officer, Rashid Ahmed were also present.