PML-N promoting politics of decency, tolerance: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday
said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had always  done politics of decency and tolerance and Pakistan  Muslim League-Nawaz believed in that culture.

Talking informally to media persons during her visit to Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) here at Parliament House,  she said that promotion of culture of decency and tolerance in  the country was imperative for strengthening of democracy and  supremacy of the Parliament.

She urged the media to project the major achievements  of the present government. The national economy has been revived and  an 85 percent decrease has been noted in terrorism related incidents  in carrying out the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project, she  added.

She said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had written a letter to the Supreme Court for formation of a commission on Panama Papers, and at that time, the opposition did not agree to the proposal, but  now after passage of a long time all had agreed on formation of the  SC commission.

The minister said that a comprehensive bill on the safety and security of journalists was to be presented in the Parliament and proposals for journalist organizations were welcome.

She said that the government was taking all possible measures  for safety of the media houses and media persons, but  the proprietors should also play their part in that connection.

She said the government believed in freedom of expression and could not even think of imposing restrictions on the media. However,  she said that the media should follow the code of conduct of  the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and  adopt a self-regulation strategy.

Under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Secretariat, she added, training of the stakeholders would be done and the  journalists would be trained in the first stage.

She said that capacity building of the media persons was necessary for ensuring that they followed the code of conduct.

Marriyum stressed the need for strengthening the  press clubs at the national, provincial and district levels.

She said that accountability bill tabled by the government was comprehensive and balanced one, on the other hand opposition’s
bill targetted only one person.

She thanked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for reposing confidence
in her and gave her the portfolio of the important ministry.

She said she was learning from all senior ministers of the cabinet
who had vast experience.

The minister said that after her election as MNA and  appointment as parliamentary secretary for interior and  narcotics division, she had benefited from the guidance  of Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

The minister said it was right of the media to  highlight the weaknesses but at the same time they should  highlight the positive aspects as well.

She said that Pakistan parliament was the first solar-powdered parliament and the only one to have SDGs secretariat, but media
had not given them proper publicity.

Besides President PRA Siddiq Sajid, a large number of  media persons were present there.