President, PM Pledge Press Freedom on World Press Freedom Day
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday renewed their commitment to safeguarding journalistic freedom as Pakistan joined the global observance of World Press Freedom Day, stressing that credible and responsible reporting remains the bedrock of a functioning democracy.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar also marked the occasion by felicitating the newly elected office-bearers of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, signalling institutional support for organised press bodies. Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam described freedom of the press as a cornerstone of democratic governance.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid tribute to journalists across the country, while Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah separately vowed that his administration would ensure both the protection of journalists and the promotion of press freedom within the province.
Several political voices also used the occasion to highlight the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, with Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and activist Mushaal Mullick decrying what they described as severe media repression in the territory, calling for international attention to restrictions on local journalism.
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