ISLAMABAD:
The Minister for Information, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, said on Wednesday
that the Bangladesh government should remove the ban on local cricket
fans flying flags of other countries during the World Twenty20.
He
said sports should be free from politics and banning spectators from
bringing flags of any country was unfortunate.“Spectators express their
feelings on the grounds and if they cannot support their favourite teams
and players, then they should be asked to watch matches at home on TV
channels,” the minister said in an informal chat with media persons
after attending a function on the “Launch of the Media Commission
Report” here at a local hotel.
To a question, Pervaiz
Rashid said Pakistan was not becoming part of any proxy war as the
government was following the policy of non-interference in the affairs
of other countries. He said Pakistan would never interfere in any other
country’s internal matters and at the same time would not allow any
other country to interfere in its own internal affairs.
Pervaiz
Rashid conceded that some elements were trying to defame Pakistan by
spreading baseless rumours and noted that the armed forces’
responsibility was to protect the integrity of the country and foil any
foreign aggression and they were doing their professional duties
befittingly.
To another question, the minister said
neither any country had asked for the Pakistan Army’s deployment nor the
government was sending any troops to any country. He said the armed
forces were here to perform their constitutional duties.
Regarding
the talks with the Taliban, he said the government team holding the
talks with the TTP was fully empowered. About the foreign policy, he
said the PML-N had a track record of improving relations with
neighbours.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has a vision on
foreign policy and since his first term as prime minister, he has been
trying to improve relations with all neighbours,” he pointed out.
To
a question on the Metro Bus Project in Rawalpindi, the minister said
there were many critics of the Motorway project but when it became
operational, everyone praised it. Similarly, he said, the Metro Bus
Project would silence its critics after its completion. The minister
maintained that all civilised countries provided the latest transport
facilities to its masses. He said the Pakistan government wanted to do
the same and its criticism was uncalled for.
When asked
about noted media person Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB), Pervaiz Rashid said he was a good administrator and
the national team’s performance had improved after his appointment.
Earlier,
speaking at the function, the minister said journalists were a vibrant
part of the society and the government acknowledged its responsibility
to provide them a safe and secure environment.
He said
that all the issues related to the security and welfare of the
journalists community were being handled with full conviction. “The
prime minister is also taking personal interest in the welfare and
protection of journalists,” he said.
“The purpose of the
formation of the media commission is to prepare a report on which
government, public media, experts and civil society members may debate
on transparency, accountability and progress of our media,” he said.
The
minister, on this occasion, congratulated the Media Commission team on
drafting a comprehensive and effective report including reformative
actions by media owners, practitioners and journalists.
Pervaiz
Rashid said the government had announced the constitution of a
commission comprising media persons, public figures and government
representatives that would propose measures to be adopted by the
government to protect journalists in the field and ensure their
well-being.
“We are committed to make Pakistan a
journalist-friendly country where not only local but also international
media feels safe and secure during their professional assignments,” he
said.
The minister contended that the Media Commission was
of the view that it was possible to facilitate and ensure freedom of
print and electronic media and all efforts must be made by public and
private media houses, broadcasters, talk show moderators and all working
journalists to adopt media codes and ethics.
“Now
Pakistan has entered into the age where politics has attained maturity,”
the minister said, adding that democracy had become functional, media
has gained immense freedom, civil society has become dynamic and a
unique culture of political tolerance has come in vogue.
The
minister claimed that all these characteristics were non-existent in
the past. “In the past, media freedom was suppressed by authoritarian
regimes and now democracy is promoting the freedom of expression,” he
said.
He said the commission had proposed its
recommendations and now responsibility of implementing them rested with
the media sector itself and the government. He said the PML-N government
was firmly committed to ensuring the freedom of the media and
facilitating journalists and media practitioners in pursuit of their
professional duties.
Noted media experts Ziauddin and
Javed Jabbar also spoke on the occasion while Marvi Memon, who heads the
National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting,
threw light on her committee’s initiatives with regards to the media
and welfare of journalists.
DHAKA: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by three wickets on Tuesday to reach the Asia Cup final.