Friday, May 16, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429    

Freedom of expression to be ensured: Sherry

Islamabad—Information Minister Sherry Rehman has said the government is committed for ensuring freedom of expression and protect this freedom at all costs. She was speaking at the stakeholders conference on freedom of information in Islamabad Thursday.
She said new legislation would be made to replace all regulations regarding the media. Sherry Rehman said the government intends to ensure openness, transparency and accountability and the media has to play a pivotal role in this regard.
She said the government wants to restructure the role of ministry of information and Broadcasting and promote close relations between all stakeholders to ensure freedom of expression.
She said in this regard, the government would welcome proposals from the stakeholders for the restructuring of the Ministry.
The Minister said the government would also make legislation to remove sanctions on the print media to ensure its independence.
She said all post November 3 laws against the media would be repealed. She said the government in consultation with the stakeholders would take all possible steps for the security of the Journalists and their life insurance.
A journalists victim fund is on the anvil to compensate families of those journalists who died during duty.
Representatives of Federal Union of Journalists, electronic and print media and civil society members also attended the conference.—PPI