Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman has strongly condemned the threatening phone calls and messages by extremist vigilantes to the daily newspaper ‘Aaj Kal’ in Islamabad and Lahore.

“The era of non-state actors trying to intimidate the public, the media and the civil society has to challenged now. This is a democratic government and we will not sit back and watch while attacks are aimed at our fundamental freedoms,” said the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

“This act of threatening messages is an offence on two counts: firstly, it is a direct challenge to the safety and security of the public and secondly, it is a threat against the freedom of the media, which again has no room in a democratic order. Those threatening the Daily Aaj Kal must remember that our government’s resolve against terrorism is firm and strong. Our resolve to root out terrorism should therefore never be doubted.”

Ordering an immediate inquiry into the threat messages sent out to the Aaj Kal newspaper, Ms Rehman assured the publication that the government will provide complete protection to their offices in Islamabad.