PESHAWAR: PML-N leader and former governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has said that government is responsible for the problems being faced by mediapersons and warned that any restrictions or sacking of journalists will endanger democracy in the country.

Speaking as chief guest at a ‘photo exhibition’ organised by the Peshawar Photo Journalists Forum (PPJF) at Peshawar Press Club on Friday, the former governor appreciated the role of media in strengthening of democracy, development and reformation of the society.

Referring to the services rendered by the mediapersons during the war on terror, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader said that the journalists had always played the role of ears and eyes of the nation despite hard days, but never compromised on principles. He said it was duty of the government to pay special attention to the problems being faced by mediapersons and ensure freedom of press at all costs.

Awami National Party leader Syed Aqil Shah also announced full support to journalists and asked the government to take the mediapersons on board in policy making process for regulation of media and avoid suppressing the press.

Earlier, Peshawar Press Club president Bukhar Shah Bacha, Khyber Union of Journalists president Saiful Islam Saifi and PPJF president Shehzad Ahmed talked about the services rendered by mediapersons in different mediums and said that media outlets had started sacking employees which had created a sense of job insecurity among them.

They demanded reinstatement of the journalists and release of salaries and stressed that the government should link advertisements to the media outlets with journalists’ demands. They said that many mediapersons had lost lives, sustained wounds and torture during the past many years but neither the government nor media outlets supported them so far.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2019