By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari for imposing a ban on the Geo TV News, accusing him of “intolerable interference” in press freedom.
The Brussels-based press body also welcomed the resignation of Information Minister Sherry Rehman in protest at the President’s action.
“Her offer to resign shows a degree of principle in a tawdry incident that casts a shadow over the good name of the governing Pakistan People’s Party,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “The President is guilty of the most intolerable interference in press freedom.”
The IFJ in a statement said that Pakistan media are now at the centre of a struggle for democratic values in the country.
“Standards of journalism have to improve, but that will not happen when government tries to dictate to journalists what is acceptable,” said White. “The government and President Zardari must end hostile actions against media and keep out of the newsroom,” he stressed.
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide .