QUETTA: Chief Justice Balochistan High Court, Qazi Faez Isa has urged upon the media to become voice of the victims instead of promoting “the propaganda of outlawed militant organisations.”

“Law does not allow anyone to promote propaganda of any militant group,” he told the participants of launching ceremony of media commission report appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan at a local hotel.

The top judge of Balochistan said that the media only reports incidents and the plight of victims was not being highlighted in a fair manner.

He said it was the fundamental right of every individual to have an access and right to information and for this purpose Balochistan government had already adopted the Press Act 2005.

“The departments are bound to provide information,” said Justice Isa.

He said the people must know about construction of roads and other development projects. “Denial of information is violation of fundamental right.”

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa said that no one was allowed to speak against the Constitution and in the favour of martial law.

“People speak about Article 6 but they do not speak about Article 5 of the Constitution, which forbids every citizen to speak in the favor of martial law,” the BHC chief justice said.

Former federal minister and the author of media commission report, Javed Jabbar on the occasion called for an impartial, responsible, accountable media in the country. He said mainstream private TV channels were deciding the rating on only 800 meters installed in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

“Balochistan has no rating meter,” Jabbar informed the participants.

The former information minister presented salient features of the recommendations of the media commission report prepared on the orders of the apex court.

Other speakers at the seminar lashed out at mainstream national media for ignoring social and political issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's least developed and resource-rich province.

“Channels are selling seconds and wasting hours,” well-know intellectual and writer, Ayub Baloch told the audience.

He stated that the media must ensure fair coverage of unfolding social and political issues in Balochistan.

Well-known political activist, Rahat Malik lamented that Balochistan, which covers half of the country was being ignored in national media.

“Media owners prefer other provinces rather than Balochistan,” he remarked.

Yasmeen Lehri, MPA belonging to ruling National Party also demanded due coverage by the electronic media with regards to issues relating to Balochistan.

She said that the way Balochistan was being ignored in other sectors, mainstream national media was ignoring the province.