June 06, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 20, 1428

QUETTA, June 5: An adjournment motion tabled by opposition members in the Balochistan Assembly against threats to journalists and suspension of transmission of private TV channels was admitted on Tuesday for debate on Thursday.

The motion was opposed by the minister for law and parliamentary affairs, but Deputy Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, who was presiding over the assembly session, said he was against restrictions on the media.

Speaking on the admissibility of the motion, Leader of Opposition Kachkol Baloch expressed resentment over threats given to mediamen and criticised the suspension of transmissions of Geo, Aaj and ARY television channels.

He alleged that a fascist organisation of Karachi was behind the threats to journalists. He said the threats and restrictions on the media were aimed at concealing truth from the public.

Praising lawyers and journalists, he said they were playing a role that should have been played by political parties. Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal of the Pakthunkhwa Milli Awami Party said media was the fourth pillar of the state and an assault on this institution was a dangerous move, which would not be allowed.

He said if the government had any complaint against a newspaper or a TV channel, it should initiate legal proceedings, instead of imposing restrictions or suspending transmission.

Rehmat Baloch and Dr Shama Ishaq of the National Party also supported the motion, saying it was a matter of freedom of the press.

Minister for Education Wahid Siddique said the issue was of public importance and it should be debated in the assembly.

However, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Abdur Rehman Jamali opposed the motion saying the issue related to the federal government and mistakes committed by some journalists had forced the government to take the step (imposing restrictions on the media).

The assembly also admitted a joint resolution of provincial minister Mir Mohammad Asim Kurd and opposition members Shafique Ahmed Khan and Rehmat Baloch calling for setting up a full-fledged cancer department in the Sandeman hospital.