Mush cautions Pak media against abusing freedom

Islamabad, June 15) Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has once again cautioned the media against ''abusing freedom'' and said it should not do anything to aggravate a crisis.

Dawn newspaper today quoted him saying this during his address to a joint gathering of the officers of Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy at the Air Headquarters.

The President, who recently withdrew a new law that had tightened regulations on media, said media freedom was undoubtedly important but the news organisations should fulfil their responsibility.

He said the media should present a positive image of the country and highlight issues of national importance.

The law that was withdrawn last week was promulgated after government officials accused the media of becoming a part of an anti-government campaign by lawyers and political parties after removal of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on March 9.

'' The media should avoid highlighting negative aspects and must not create a sense of despondency among the masses," Gen Musharraf added.

The president distanced himself from the reference against the Chief Justice and said he had nothing to do with it.

He reiterated that it was a legal issue referred to him by the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and he was bound to send it to the Supreme Judicial Council for due legal process.

"It is a sensitive matter. The Supreme Court is the only deciding authority and its decision will be binding on everyone,'' he added.

UNI

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