Gilani urges media to play responsible role in war against terrorism
MULTAN, Jan 17 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday urged media to play its role with responsibility in the war against terrorism and reiterated government’s resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.He said this after administering oath to the newly elected office bearers of Multan Press Club (MPC) in a ceremony here at the local airport.The prime minister handed over a cheque for Rs 70 million  to MPC President Shakeel Anjum for  payment   to Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation for the plots allotted to media persons in journalists colony Multan.
He also announced a grant of Rs 7 million  for the local press club.
Gilani  said the work of media was important in  war against terrorism as this menace has  harmed peace , foreign investment, investment and development in  the country.
He said  terrorism was  opposed to tolerance, patience and peaceful co-existence which are the hallmark of our society.
The Prime Minister said that government would eradicate this menace and would transform Pakistan into a peaceful and investment friendly country.
He said that Pakistan People’s  Party Government believes in the freedom of press and it would  provide all facilities to media persons.
The Prime Minister said that this gathering of journalists reminded him of the glorious sacrifices media persons had rendered during the Tehrik-e-Pakistan and in the struggle against the dictators for the restoration of democracy.
Democracy was revived and progressing with the support and the sacrifices of journalists and political workers, he said and added the government acknowledges the importance of media as the fourth pillar.
The Prime Minister said that terrorism was the most serious problem for the country and said all those would be punished who were involved in killing  innocent people  launching attacks on shrines, mosques and educational institutions, committing violence against women, and those who wish to enforce their own version of Shariah.
The Prime Minister said that the problems the country was confronting today  were inherited  by  the   Government.
The Prime Minister   said the Government was determined to solve all these problems for benefit of the people.  Government does not believe in short term solutions and is moving forward to solve them  he said and added that it was for this reason that the government had to take some difficult decisions which initially  were criticised.
He said that the democratic forces and media will have to play their role to counter challenges  for the future generations.
Prime Minister Gilani said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always expressed solidarity with media and added that no government except the PPP worked hard for the welfare of journalists.
Gilani said that he had accepted all the demands of media in his last meeting with the representatives of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS). He said that Press Council would be formed and freedom of information act would given a final shape after building consensus.
He added that the government had established fund for martyred journalists, formed a tripartite commission to resolve the issue of seventh wage award, repealed Pemra Ordinance 2007, ensured payment to newspapers for government advertisements, established National Press Club in Islamabad, Benazir Media University besides upgrading PTV, Radio Pakistan and APP.
The Prime Minister said that no political worker or journalist faced false cases during the tenure of PPP and no newspaper, journal or channel was banned.
On this occasion, MPC President Shakeel Anjum announced to give life membership to the Prime Minister and handed over a life membership certificate to him.
Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, PPP Punjab president and Minister of State for Communications Imtiaz Safdar Waraich, Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, PM’s media coordinator Khawaja Rizwan Alam, MNAs, MPAs, local PPP leaders, president MPC Shakeel Anjum, general secretary Nisar Awan besides a large number of media persons attended the ceremony.
Resident editors of national and regional newspapers Jabbar Mufti, Ashiq Ali Farrukh, Zafar Aaheer, Shoukat Ashfaq, Zahoor Dhareja, Malik Abdur Rehman Hur, Asad Mumtaz, and others were also present.
Those who took oath of their office included Shakeel Anjum (president), Nisar Awan (general secretary), Rana Rohail (finance secretary), Shahzad Anwar Amrohvi (senior vice president), Khalid Mehmood Sheikh (vice president), Gohar Javed (joint secretary) and eleven members of executive body, including two women namely Ruqayya and Imrana Komal.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister in an informal chat with the newsmen after the oath-taking ceremony said that he always welcomed criticism of media on the issue of appointments, adding, but media should also hail some appointments.
The Prime Minister made these remarks as some employees of Daily Imroz appreciated him for appointing Rahat Zafar as Chairman of the Press Trust, which greatly helped in resolving their 20-year old problems.
The employees of the Daily Improz also sought the help of the Prime Minister in getting their pension issues resolved through the provision of funds to Press Trust. The Prime Minister assured all out support and said ,”the government gives priority to address the problems of media”.