ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed dissatisfaction over the role of the media and said instead of acting as a “facilitator”, it focuses only on finding faults with the system.

Addressing a large gathering of national and international media representatives invited by him to an Iftar-dinner at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday, Mr Gilani said the media should keep the national interest supreme while reporting about sensitive issues.

He termed media’s coverage of bomb blasts and other acts of terror exaggerated, saying that it had a telling effect on economy.

Media should play the role of a mediator among warring factions, sects and regions, the prime minister said. “Let the media be an impartial judge of situations keeping the larger national interests in mind.”

Mr Gilani urged the media to extend its cooperation to the government and help it in combating terrorism.

He called upon representatives of the international media to cooperate with their counterparts in Pakistan and guide the government in mitigating human sufferings.

Highlighting the government’s strategy to tackle terrorism, the prime minister said the government wanted to make peace with people who renounced violence; to invest in the development and social uplift of the local people; and to use force only as a last resort against those who refused to surrender.

He said the PPP government and its allies believed in the freedom of expression and freedom of press.

AFP adds: Mr Gilani reiterated that Pakistan would not tolerate violations of its sovereignty, in a reference to a series of US strikes this month.

“I want to declare categorically that we will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity by anyone in the name of combating terrorism.”

The prime minister said that Pakistan wanted peace and required the media’s cooperation. “I also want to make it clear that we need peace not only within Pakistan but also in our region, which requires your cooperation and collaboration to achieve this objective.”