Islamabad- Information Minister Pervez Rasheed today said free media, free judiciary free institutions and all freedom we are enjoying today is because our brave armed forces.
Talking to journalists after cricket match ceremony, government spokesman clarifying his statement said he did not use word “Ghulel-walay” for army or ISI. “Free media, free judiciary free institutions and all freedom we are enjoying today is because our brave armed forces have given great sacrifices,” the minister said when asked did he point army as “Ghulel-walay” and Geo channel as “Qalam-walay” in his last statement.
He said terrorists would have snatched all our freedom, freedom of speech and expression but our army and ISI protected all freedom we are enjoying today, by giving their lives. When asked does the government agree with what Interior Minister Ch. Nisar had said about irresponsibility shown by Geo channel, the Senator said that many people including journalists of Geo media group now are saying same things what Ch. Nisar asserted before. He said this matter is subjudice in PEMRA and we should wait for their decision, he further added that government had nothing to do with the matter. Rasheed said we should introduce a culture to accept institution’s decisions as PEMRA is independent body.
On electricity disconnection of national institutions, the minister said Abid Sher Ali is doing his job and no one is above the law adding that everyone had to pay their electricity bills. The minister said Sher Ali had also disconnected electricity of his office as well which reflects that no one is exempted from rule of law.