Media security: Misappropriation of funds denied

Primarily media owners were responsible for the security of their staff during performance of duty: NASC

ISLAMABAD: Dispelling impressions about the use of secret funds by the Ministry of Information, Secretary Information Rashid Ahmed told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Tuesday that his ministry did not spend any funds that were not mentioned in the finance bill. He was responding to a remark by a member of the standing committee that the ministry should use the ‘secret fund’ for providing security to journalists. In reference to providing security for media professionals, Belum Hasnain, the chair of the meeting, said that primarily media owners were responsible for the security of their staff during performance of duty. However, the federal government remains in touch with the provincial governments over provisions of security to media people, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2012.