June 14, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 09, 1429

LAHORE, June 13: Governor Salmaan Taseer said on Friday the restoration of deposed judges was not the basic problem of the masses. “Food, electricity, water and their provision (to the masses) should be our top-most priority,” he told newsmen here after meeting an Omanese journalists delegation.

Terming the long march a ‘short march’, Taseer said that issue (of restoration of judges) was being highlighted by a few private television channels.

According to a handout, he said since it was a constitutional matter, it was the responsibility of parliament to resolve it. He said the PPP and the PML-N wanted to restore the deposed judges but in different ways.

The governor said one could not justify the baton-charge of poor clerks if they protested for their rights when ‘protocol’ was being extended to a ‘few’ political workers participating in the long march.

He said the PPP was a democratic party and it believed in the freedom of expression. He said rallies and protests were a part of the democratic system, but the government would not allow anyone to disrupt the law and order.

Taseer said there were a large number of TV channels on air nowadays, and if they could not adopt a policy of self-accountability, this industry would deteriorate. “Therefore, media should play its role with full responsibility on various national issues.”

He said by negating the trend of criticism for the sake of criticism, media should display both sides of the picture so that government and the people could attain guidance.

Talking to the delegation, Taseer said impartial and active media played a vital role in the development and progress of any society. He said today every Pakistani was free to express his opinion.

He said the media played the role of opposition besides providing guidance to the government. He said media, with the help of its positive analysis and news, could draw the attention of government to various public welfare issues.

US AMBASSADOR: US ambassador Annie Peterson called on Taseer at the Governor's House on Friday.

The governor said the PPP had always discouraged extremism in the Pakistani society. He said due to open policies of the government, every one was free to express his stance.

The governor informed the American ambassador that the demands of free economy had been kept in view for the enforcement of revolutionary reforms in the economic sector.

The US ambassador said Pakistan and America were important allies in the campaign against terrorism, but the foundation of friendly relations was very vast. She said her government was extending financial assistance in the promotion of universal education in Pakistan. She said it was heartening that public sector universities, especially in Punjab, were introducing new disciplines and enrollment in universities had increased.