'Sindh govt always favours press freedom'

KARACHI:

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Sindh government have always respected press freedom and played their role in protecting journalists' rights.

Addressing a protest by journalists outside the Karachi Press Club, he said the PPP itself had faced a prolonged media trial, yet the Sindh government had never stopped advertisements to any media organisation or imposed restrictions on press freedom.

"If any allegation against us is proved, we are ready to face the consequences. However, we have the right to lodge a complaint against false and baseless news reports," he said. Sharjeel mentioned that a journalist had recently broadcast a report that was damaging to the Sindh government. Following a complaint, the journalist was dismissed by his organisation. However, he personally contacted the relevant media organisation and requested that the journalist be reinstated. He said the purpose of lodging a complaint was not to deprive any journalist of employment but to point out inaccurate and unfounded reporting.