ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Participants of a conference here on Tuesday asked the government to promote free private media and ensure protection of journalists and access to information.

These demands were made by the participants on the last day of a two-day conference on "Private Media for a Free Civil Society", organized jointly by Liberal Forum Pakistan and Fried rick Naumann Stiftung to highlight the challenges being faced by the private media in the country.

Replying to a question, Pakistan Muslim League General- Secretary Senator Mushahid Hussain, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said Indian channels should not be banned in the country.

He said Pakistani people were mature enough to differentiate between facts and propaganda or false reports. Indian channels, he said, could not influence the countrymen to compromise on their sovereignty or separate identity.

Press and politicians have to play their due role in the country and people need to be educated as it is the only way to ensure a free civil society, he said. About the credibility of PTV news (Khabarnama), the PML leader said the PTV was state-owned and had to function towards achieving various targets set by the government.

"PTV Khabarnama is supposed to say everything is going right, so that people can sleep peacefully," he said while answering a question regarding the "Sab Acha Hai" (everything is right) impression projected by the PTV on various issues.

The participants, however, did not agree with this and said the PTV had failed to present a balance picture of events and fact since its inception, and projected false perceptions.

When asked about the ban on a news website, Mr Hussain said: "The ban has been imposed by the government and I am not responsible for government's actions." However, he said his party was in favour of free media in the country.

He also stressed the need for national reconciliation, saying: "We should learn from the mistakes we committed in the past and develop consensus on all major national issues."

Mr Hussain supported the idea of establishing a press council to observe the progress of media. However, he suggested that such a body should not be owned by the state but the media professionals with the representation of the government and civil society members.

The participants also criticized the ban on coverage of National Assembly and Senate proceedings by private television channels. The private media, they said, was forced to establish main offices abroad by spending hefty amounts, which was not fair.

They also criticized the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for, what they said, creating hurdles in the promotion of free media. The participants called for the establishment of a voluntary association of private media to represent the rights of media and ensure healthy competition.

An exhibition displaying various designs and brands of old radio sets was also held on the occasion. It highlighted the evolution of radio as one of the major tools of mass communication over the years.