‘Government has
stakes in an Independent
Media Environment’
– Sherry Rehman
Says the PPP Government
Would Never Support Violence
Against Media
Islamabad, December 29,
2008: The Federal Minister
for Information and Broadcasting
Ms Sherry Rehman has said
that the government is
committed to the protection
of journalists, and there
would be no violation
of media freedom and independence
in the PPP Government’s
term.
“The fundamental
difference between an
authoritarian system and
a democratic structure
is that democracies endeavour
to strengthen institutions
that support a representative
order. The current democratic
government would neither
supervise nor would allow
any action that violates
public’s right to
freedom of information”
said Ms Sherry Rehman
commenting on a report
analysing media freedom
in Pakistan in year 2008.
“At any given point,
the state-media relations
are determined by the
state’s commitment
to the fundamental and
democratic rights of the
citizens. Unfortunately,
in the past years, the
element of distrust has
largely dominated the
state-media equation.
Our government is committed
to dismantle structures
that support violence
against media for political
gains. We wish to build
trust between institutions
and one of the most important
steps in this regard is
the revocation of all
anti-media laws and reiteration
of our media freedom commitment
through policy actions.”
Ms Sherry Rehman said
that Pakistan cannot afford
to allow regressive forces
to influence and manipulate
the systems of the state.
“It is our collective
responsibility to fight
the elements that seek
to undermine our democratic
aspirations. The Pakistani
nation has paid a heavy
price for the restoration
of democracy and the state
as well as the media must
counter forces that have
repeatedly trampled our
constitutional rights.
On February 18, we all
pledged our support for
democracy. We have a responsibility
to the country as well
as to ourselves to safeguard
and promote structures
that make democracy a
sustainable system in
Pakistan. I would urge
all journalists who feel
threatened to get in touch
with the ministry. ”
Expressing her government’s
resolve to protect the
right to freedom of information,
the Federal Information
Minister said that the
media must work with the
government to fight the
anti-media forces. “It
is the responsibility
of the state to provide
protection to the media.
After years of authoritarian
interventions, Pakistan
finally has a government
that is committed to investing
in media freedom. The
government and the media
must work together to
strengthen a culture of
tolerance, understanding,
and free and responsible
information flow as we
both have stakes in an
independent media environment.”