QUETTA: Balochistan Information Minister Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal has offered to find a legal solution for withdrawal of cases registered against journalists and newspapers on the orders of the Balochistan High Court under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Speaking at the ‘Media Day’ organised by the Balochistan Information Department in connection with the Pakistan Day on Monday, he said the Balochistan government had not registered any FIRs against newspapers and journalists because it believed in freedom of expression and supported a free and independent media.

“The nine cases were registered against journalists in Balochistan on the orders of the court, but the provincial government is ready to play its role to withdraw them through talks,” he said.

Also read: Pakistani journalists under siege: Amnesty International

The minister said the provincial government would take steps for the welfare of heirs of the journalists who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He said the government would take all steps to provide security to media houses and journalists.

Mir Jan Mohammad Buledi, spokesman for the Chief Minister, said that Balochistan had a tribal and feudal society where journalists faced difficulties in performing their professional duty.

“Our tribal society lacks tolerance and harmony, but the journalists’ community would have to bring enlightenment to society,” he said.

Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani said compensation had been paid to the families of deceased journalists. He said adequate steps were being taken for the safety of journalists.

National Party MPA Dr Shama Ishaq supported demands presented by journalists and urged the government to provide security to them. Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Khurshid Abbasi, President of the Balochistan Union of Journalists Irfan Saeed and President of the Quetta Press Club Razaur Rehman urged the government to make public the report of the judicial commission on the murders of Irshad Mastoi, Abdul Rasool and Mohammad Younas.

They said journalists had called for setting up of a judicial commission to investigate the killing of 40 journalists in Balochistan.

They called for withdrawal of cases against journalists.

Published in Dawn March 24th , 2015

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