Mushahid Hussain'advocates' free press
Aitzaz blames govt for harassing newsmen
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Mushahid Hussain Syed told the Senate on Wednesday that the government was strongly committed to the freedom of the Press and it itended to have the best of relations with the press.
He said he had held a positive meeting with Editor-in-Chief of Jang, Mir Shakilur Rehman, on Wednesday to discuss the issues. He was responding to a point of order by the Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan in the House, who alleged that the police had seized reels of newsprint on Wednesday which were being shifted from an Urdu newspaper of Islamabad to the offices of Jang.
The minister said he was not aware of this matter. "I think it happened at a lower level which will be looked into it." He condemned the baton-charge on two correspondents of the Jang Group of Newspapers. The minister said he had talked to the interior minister on the issue. Those found guilty of the transgression of law will be punished, he assured.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan on Wednesday expressed concern over the government's continued hostile posture towards the press, saying that daily Ausaf -- which provided newsprint to the Jang group in the wake of seizure of their newsprint -- was being harassed and intimidated by Chairman Ehtesab Bureau Saifur Rehman.
He was speaking on a point of order in the Senate after the question-hour. He said after confiscation of the Jang's newsprint, the Ausaf gave news reel to Jang which provoked the government and its Editor Hamid Mir was telephoned by Saifur Rehman, who harassed him for helping the Jang Group. He said Hamid Mir was threatened, adding that "I am surprised over such a harsh reaction on this gesture by the government."
He said on the one hand, the information minister wanted to form a committee to look into the Jang's issue and find ways to resolve it and, on the other, such steps were being taken. He said the press gallery wore a deserted look because of the government's highly objectionable and vindictive attitude. He said this situation had breached the privilege of the Senate, "as we communicate whatever decisions are taken here to the people through the press and if it is absent, all of this exercise becomes futile."
Responding to the point of order, Mushahid Hussain said he was not aware of any telephonic conversation between Hamid Mir and Saifur Rehman, as according to his information, Saif was away to Rahimyar Khan. He said he was trying to resolve the Jang issue, adding he had a meeting with Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman on Tuesday.