KARACHI, May 6: The Minister for Information and Media Development, Nisar Memon, has said that the print media is absolutely independent in the country and there is no plan to curtail the freedom of the press.

“We do not have any newspaper nor do we have any plan to bring out any during the next five to six months,” he said while talking to politicians from different parties at the State Guest House here on Monday.

The meeting was attended by the central, regional and local leaders of the political parties.

“Today, for us, there is no politics as we were a party in the referendum which was conducted on issues and that phase is over from our side. Whosoever from us would want to contest the elections, he would have to quit the government to take part in the polls,” he said, adding that the government would not be a party in the elections.

He said that the devolution process would be carried forward and taken from the district to the province level.

Nisar Memon said that constitutional amendments would be required for introducing a system of checks and balances.

He also declared that political and economic reforms would be pursued.

The minister said that President General Pervez Musharraf has got endorsement through the referendum and now he would take the process of reforms forward.

He stated that now it is up to the politicians to contest the polls and the government wants to do justice and effect a balance in the coverage of political activities on radio and TV. The purpose of the meeting is to see as to what should be done in this respect, he added.—APP