Incumbent govt fully believes in freedom of media & freedom of expression: Marriyum Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD, April 13 (SABAH): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that present government fully believes in the freedom of media as well as freedom of expression but the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) made a number of unfounded cases against the journalists during its tenure.

Marriyum Aurangzeb was speaking at the oath taking ceremony of newly elected office bearers of the Jhang Press Club and Jhang Union of Journalists on Thursday. She further said the incumbent government strived hard for the redressal of the excesses committed by the past regime against the media persons.

The minister reiterated that the incumbent government fully believed in freedom of media and freedom of expression and was taking all possible steps for that purpose. On the contrary, she said the previous government had instituted numerous baseless cases against journalists during its tenure.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the government had not taken any vindictive action against any journalist since coming to power in April last year, adding it was taking measures for the welfare of journalists and media workers.

She said that the Ministry of Information organized training programs to enhance the professional skills of journalists. Taking a jibe at the PTI regime, the minister said that the dark period of four years was over now when programs, columns and channels were shut down.

Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed the hope that the newly-elected office bearers of Jhang Press Club would work for the welfare of the journalist community of the area. The minister administered the oath to the 11-member body of Jhang Press Club, including its President Liaquat Ali Anjum and Secretary Khurram Saeed.