ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that correlating the arrest of a certain person over allegation of some business wrongdoing with the freedom of media is not only unjustified but also against journalistic ethics and norms.

Addressing a press conference on here Friday, she said that over the past 24 hours, a media house had been trying to link the government with the arrest of its group editor-in-chief by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

She said that [Jang group editor-in-chief] Mir Shakilur Rehman had been arrested in connection with a case related to taking undue favours from a former prime minister and chief minister. She said that since the matter was now sub judice, it was not justified to hold “media courts” on the issue as it was tantamount to an attempt to influence the judges of the court.

Dr Awan said that both parties should present their evidence in the court of law and a media debate on the issue should be avoided.

Says govt had nothing to do with the detention

She said that the government had come to know about the arrest of Mr Rehman through the media and did not react as the matter was related to NAB which was an independent institution.

However, she added, now the government was compelled to clarify its position as the said media group was trying to malign the prime minister and defame the PTI government by claiming victimisation on the part of the government.

She asked the media house to also highlight the government version in this case.

She said that the Pakistan Teheerk-i-Insaf (PTI) government believed in the freedom of media and was taking steps conducive to ensuring its freedom.

Dr Awan said that 22-year political struggle of Prime Minister Imran Khan was aimed at promoting the rule of law and Constitution, strengthening of institutions and implementation of the law on all citizens irrespective of their status.

She said that during the PTI government’s tenure national institutions had become vibrant and they were now performing their duties independently.

Dr Awan said that the people had voted Imran Khan to power for ensuring the rule of law in the country as promised in the PTI manifesto.

Replying to a question, she said that the country was moving towards a national narrative on coronavirus and efforts were being made to overcome this issue with the cooperation of the provincial governments.

She said the pandemic had become an international problem and created health, economic and social and connectivity challenges.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2020