Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government's firm commitment to support all efforts that promote and advance the shining principles of freedom of expression and free media. He was speaking at an event organized by the Islamabad Journalist Security Forum on the topic of the UN Ten-Year Action Plan on Tuesday.
The prime minister said his government believes freedom of expression is sacred and will remain at the heart of the development of democracy Shehbaz Sharif observed that democracy and the media reinforce each other, and without freedom of expression there can be no democracy.The prime minister said his government would be part of efforts aimed at strengthening Pakistan's democracy through a freer media.
Shehbaz Sharif pointed out that Pakistan has become the first country in Asia to pass legislation on the safety of journalists at the federal and provincial levels in Sindh province., He said the government would continue to support ongoing efforts in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. to legislate the safety of journalists.
Shehbaz Sharif said that parliament passed the landmark law on protection of journalists and professional media after thorough consultation with all stakeholders. He said the act recognizes the rights of journalists and seeks to protect them from all kinds of ill-treatment and aggression. He ensured the full implementation of this law.
Shehbaz Sharif said that his government believes that no journalists should be summoned or attacked for exercising their freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.Shehbaz Sharif, referring to the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya, said that he had written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan asking him to set up a commission to probe the murder and hoped that some action would be taken in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, French Ambassador Nicolas Galey praised the legislation passed by the Pakistani Parliament to protect journalists. He said his embassy would continue to promote media exchange between Pakistan and France.The Norwegian Ambassador to Pakistan, Per Albert Ilsaas, said the global community must ensure a safe environment for journalists both online and offline. He said that Pakistan's Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act is a significant step to ensure the safety of journalists and media professionals and protect them from violence and harassment.
The Danish Ambassador to Pakistan, Jakob Linulf, alluding to the cooperation between Denmark and Pakistan in the field of media, said that his country supports community journalism in Pakistan. He said our support goes to the country's growing ecosystem of media startups. He said that we recently organized a visit of Pakistani journalists to Denmark to enhance their ability to report on climate change.
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