Media accountability petition: SC orders freeze on Information ministry’s ‘secret account’

Hamid Mir, Absar Alam inform court that funds are being used for a secret agenda by influencing the media.


Web Desk September 06, 2012

QUETTA: The Supreme Court Quetta registry ordered that the secret account of the information ministry should be frozen, while hearing an application moved by TV anchors Hamid Mir and Absar Alam, reported Express News on Thursday.

The account has been frozen till September 12 which is the next date of the hearing of the case.

During the hearing, the applicants told the two-judge bench that the funds of the information ministry were Rs2 billion last year which have now been increased to Rs4 billion. They added that the funds were being used for a “secret agenda” in an incorrect manner by influencing the media.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain remarked that there was no need for a secret account as the budget of the information ministry should be open. He further asked the ministry to inform the court of its budget and mandate.

The bench maintained that it was compelled to pass an interim order in the case as the ministry, even after being given so much time, has not provided the court with any information.

The petition prays to the Supreme Court to form a commission that will be responsible for inquiring about the source of income of TV channel owners, advertising agencies and anchorpersons.

COMMENTS (13)

sabi | 11 years ago | Reply

Hamid mir and absar alim playing cammel and jackal game.This is infact a secret tussel between agencies and civalions to get control over media-Poor civalions!!

tahir Kahn | 11 years ago | Reply

The Supreme Court should permanently ban secret funds of the information ministry. This fund is always used to bribe people. Democratic countries should not have even information ministries. In Pakistan, Information Ministry, PID, EP wings and other attached departments are useless. They have never served the country but always issue directives to the journalists. And unfortunately media outlets follow their dictates as they beg for advertisements, foreign trips and grants. These departments are the main cause of corrupt practices among some journalists. The SC should ask about the role of the Information Ministry. The Ministry and PID have always tried to find out favourits. They have never never followed merit. I would request the SC to stop the Information Ministry from bribing the journalists through secret funds and grants.

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