A journalist claims to have lost his job at state-owned broadcaster Pakistan Television (PTV) after asking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a critical question, highlighting the issue of limited space for free media in the country.
Azam Chaudhry, President of the Lahore Press Club had been hired as an analyst by PTV but was dismissed on the same day following his inquiry to the prime minister. Chaudhry has not received any written notification from his employer regarding the termination.
During a press conference at the Punjab Governor’s House on June 30, Chaudhry asked the prime minister when the unannounced media restrictions would be lifted. He expressed that his question represented the concerns of the entire journalist community, stating that media bans were widespread throughout Pakistan in the present era.
Highlighting the severity of the restrictions, Chaudhry pressed the prime minister for details on when and how the media restrictions would be resolved. He pointed out that while political parties like PML-N and PPP claim to support freedom of expression, the reality contradicts these assertions.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz stated that he was against restrictions and deferred the matter to the information minister, encouraging Chaudhry to voice any legitimate concerns he had.
The prime minister acknowledged that he did not wish to dwell on the past but acknowledged that everyone was aware of what had occurred. Nevertheless, he assured Chaudhry that his valid concerns would be addressed.
Official Response
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has stated that Azam Chaudhry is not a PTV employee and has never been a PTV employee.
“He is and has only been a member of an issues-based analyst pool for PTV. He has not been removed from this pool and has not been asked to leave. Nothing of the sort has been communicated to him. He is part of PTV Lahore Analyst pool,” the Minister added.
“The views and opinions of this journalist were known to the government at the time he was invited to the press conference. If the government wanted to suppress his voice or questions, he would not have been invited and given the opportunity to ask his questions. The Prime Minister answered his questions in detail. I answered his questions as well. The Prime Minister spent a significant amount of time answering questions from various reporters in the room at Governor House Lahore that day,” she concluded.
Via: Geo
Boot polishi Show-baz can’t even handle a few critical questions from honest journalists. Aam khilao bus isay.