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To a standing ovation at the ‘Freedom of Media Conference’ in London, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday the media was totally free in Pakistan, and media houses in Pakistan were enjoying the freedom to such a level that no one could question them about delayed salaries, job and salary cuts.
“Which media house in the world can do this to their employees?” he questioned the audience amid a thunder of applause.
“We will never question the media houses, who they hire and fire and never pay a salary. This will be just interference to media houses working.”
A Canadian journalist whose Twitter account was recently suspended, praised the Pakistani government for their role in freedom of expression.
“I am really happy to say that the Pakistani government truly believes in the freedom of media.”
Mr Qureshi also explained the reasons for blocking the interviews of Asif Zardari and Maryam Nawaz soon after they went on air.
“One thing, you never get hard news from Zardari and Maryam. They both have nothing new to say and waste the time of viewers and interviewers. For these reasons, their interviews were stopped in the best national interests. Otherwise, there is no bar on the media.”
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