Pakistan’s new Information Minister says the government believes in freedom of expression and has no intention of restricting the media, The News reports. Qamar Zaman Kaira was speaking after replacing Sherry Rehman, who resigned as minister last week, reportedly because of her opposition to plans by the government to impose new restrictions on private news channels.
Mr Kaira said the media had played a positive role during an anti-government march by lawyers last week. He asked journalists to report the facts without reflecting their likes and dislikes.
Dawn newspaper reports that Ms Rehman resigned after a series of heated arguments with other senior members of the government who wanted restrictions on some television channels for airing what were perceived as anti-government views during the lawyers’ march. The lawyers were demanding the reappointment of a dismissed chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry - something the government has since agreed to.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)
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