No censorship on media, govt welcomes criticism: Durrani

Islamabad, Jun 29 (UNI) Firmly ruling out any censorship on media during the present regime in Pakistan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani claimed the PML government welcomed its criticism and analysis.

''There is no crackdown on the media. There is neither any press advice nor censorship in Pakistan, and our media is free to comment, criticise and review the performance of the government,'' he said, seeking to refute the assertion of some elements that there were curbs on the media.

''The government not only acknowledges but also encourages constructive and positive criticism by the media,'' he said, speaking at the National Defense University during a workshop on 'Media as the Element of National Power' yesterday, reports today said.

Stressing the past regimes used to portray their interest as national interest, Mr Durrani noted that contrary to the past governments, the incumbent government believes that national interests cannot always be the same as seen by the government.

''The government functioning should be criticised and analysed and that is the reason that we welcome the media critique,'' he asserted, adding that they believed that ''objective criticism helps the government in evaluating its performance and taking corrective measures.'' Terming 1959 takeover of Progressive Papers Limited by the then government as the first major attack on the media, the Minister said that leaders in the past did not miss any opportunity to gag the press.

''Whether it was the Press and Publications Ordinance of 1960, the nationalisation of newspapers in ZA Bhutto era, or Martial Law Orders of Zia regime, all were meant to suppress and control the freedom of expression,'' he recalled, adding that even the governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif despite coming into power through vote frequently resorted to ''arm-twisting of the media for flimsy reasons.'' On the other hand, the present regime can boast of the abolition of newsprint quota, reduction of customs duty on newsprint, Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002, Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance-2002, PEMRA Ordinance 2002, cross-media ownership and 684 percent increase in the budgetary allocations for media-related projects in budget 2007-08, he noted.

Mr Durrani urged the media to play its due role towards the achievement of eight strategic national objectives, which he defined as ''perseverance of the ideological boundaries of the state; geographical integrity; protection of national interests; conservation of economic interests and security; inter-provincial harmony and unity; defence; maintenance of law and order; and fight against extremism, sectarianism and all forms of terrorism.'' UNI XC VD DB1024