News
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Govt taking steps against human trafficking: Malik
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik has said the government is taking effective steps to prevent human trafficking.
“All available resources are being utilised to curb human trafficking,” the minister said while talking to British High Commissioner to Pakistan Adam Thomson, who called on him here on Tuesday. During the meeting, which took place in a cordial atmosphere, matters relating to bilateral interests came under discussion, said a press release.
Malik warned the elements involved in human trafficking to abstain from illegal activities, otherwise stern action would be taken against them. The high commissioner said that Britain gave importance to its ties with Pakistan and expressed the resolve that bilateral relations between the two countries would be further strengthened.
The interior minister has also said the government desires that journalists should express their opinion without fear, as it would ensure their protection and continue to improve their working conditions.
He was addressing a two-day conference, Media and Professionalism: Keeping Journalists and Journalism Safe in Hostile Environments, which was organised in collaboration with Intermedia Pakistan, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS).
The minister assured best possible security for journalists and said Ministry of Interior would extend whatever support was needed to ensure their protection. He lauded media for highlighting different aspects of war against terrorism, creating public awareness over the issue, and for playing its due part, amid odd situations.
“It is the top priority of the government to resolve the problems of the working journalists,” he said, adding that the government exhibited exceptional respect for media freedom and plurality of views. “We have never believed in the culture of press advice, censorship and control of content or information and all of you are witness to the fact that the democratic government has never stifled media freedom,” he asserted.
Malik said the democratic government was providing maximum facilities to journalists, especially, in the form of grants and financial assistance to press clubs and journalists. He claimed the government had made utmost efforts to provide security to media persons and protect the lives of journalists and their families, but in the wake of the acts of terrorism, there had been some unfortunate incidents. He assured the government would not spare any culprit who was involved in the killing of media persons.
“We are committed to dispense justice to the journalists killed or disabled in the line of duty,” he added. He also called for need of training for the journalists who perform their duties in conflict areas. The capacity building of media was also on the agenda of the government and efforts were underway for training of journalists reporting in conflict zones, he said. He recommended that only trained journalists should be sent to conflict zones.
The minister also announced setting up of a committee, comprising secretary interior, home secretaries of provinces and three journalists to probe the killing of the journalists who lost their lives in line of their duties. He said the committee would present its report within a month.
Later, responding to questions, Malik said the government had discharged its responsibilities to bring those involved in assassination of Benazir Bhutto to justice. Pakistan People’s Party had lost its leader and it would leave no stone unturned to expose the faces of those who had conspired against and assassinated Benazir Bhutto. “The government has provided all details to courts about those who planned and made conspiracy in the assassination of the PPP leader,” he said, adding the identified accused involved in the assassination of Benazir have been arrested and are facing trial. Some of the accused are proclaimed offenders while efforts are also being made to arrest some of them through Interpol, he added. He said challan with strong evidence have already been submitted in the court and those who have any doubts can pursue the case and approach the court. “Yes, it took sometime and it was not easy to compile all the evidences, but we have done our job and discharged our responsibilities,” he added. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk