ISLAMABAD, July 22: The federal minister for information & media development, Nisar A. Memon, has said the government believes in complete freedom of Press and media and is keen to see the Press acting as a watchdog for protecting the people’s rights.

He was speaking as the guest of honour at a seminar organized by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) on “Towards a sustainable democracy” here on Monday.

“It is for the first time in a military government that so much freedom of speech and Press has been allowed,” he said adding “at the government level access to information is being ensured through the spokesmen appointed in different ministries and departments.

The Minister added that the establishment of Pemra was a step of far-reaching consequences as it was designed to provide greater choice to the viewers and listeners. The government, he said, was inviting applications for setting up radio and television stations in the private sector.

Mr Memon said that draft of constitutional amendments had been floated for pubic scrutiny and such a debate had never held in the history of country, not even in parliament.

Referring to the package of constitutional amendments, the Minister observed that these were designed to ensure effective checks and balances in our political system. “We have great respect for the rule of law and we are striving to strengthen it in the country”, he added.

The president of Supreme Court Bar Association, Hamid Khan, said delay in announcement of the election schedule was an open violation of the SC judgement in Zafar Ali Shah case.

He said merely fixing the election date could not be treated as announcement of the election schedule.

He stressed that there should be a neutral and credible chief election commissioner (CEC) to ensure fair and free election.

He feared that the CEC would do what the government wanted from him. He deplored that no action was taken against large-scale irregularities which took place in the referendum. He pointed out that turnout in some districts had gone to 104 per cent.

He demanded formation of a new election commission comprising neutral people and giving the EC financial and administrative powers to conduct fair and free elections. He also demanded lifting of ban on political activities without further delay.—Agencies