Sharjeel vows to protect press freedom, journalists’ welfare

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting press freedom and the welfare of journalists, asserting that this is the age of information and communication.

Memon made these remarks while speaking to members of the Karachi Press Club and responding to media queries earlier this week. Memon, who was warmly received at the Karachi Press Club by its newly elected office bearers, congratulated them on their appointment and assured them of the Sindh government’s support.

He emphasized the importance of a strong mainstream media, urging it to collaborate with other institutions for the betterment of society. “We believe in dialogue and see talks as the solution to every problem,” Memon said, when questioned about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) founder.

“We have our own government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but not a single person protested there. The PTI founder must be held accountable for the incidents that occurred during the protests and rebellion within the institutions.”

Memon also addressed the recent controversy surrounding the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law, stating that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a major supporter of freedom of expression. “However, we question what the solution is to stop those who spread lies,” he said. “The creation of a mechanism to prevent the spread of lies is necessary to maintain public trust in the media.” In a veiled reference to the PTI founder, Memon pointed out that “one who calls the world thieves and robbers is now requesting facilities, such as double mattresses and local chickens.”

He criticized the PTI founder’s selective approach to justice, citing the Rs 7 billion bribe in the Peshawar BRT project and the stay orders obtained to halt the investigation into the bribery. The Sindh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, has implemented several initiatives to promote media freedom and journalists’ welfare. This includes the Sindh government’s decision to launch the Pink Scooty initiative, aimed at empowering women through this initiative.

Memon emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving issues faced by journalists and media institutions, stating that “we must play our respective roles in society to address this issue.” With the recent introduction of the People’s Buses and the ongoing development projects in Sindh, Memon expressed the government’s desire to see the launch of the Electric Vehicle (EV) taxi service and Pink and EV taxis soon.

Memon thanked the Karachi Press Club for the invitation and expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to engage with the media fraternity. “We will continue to work towards creating a mechanism to prevent the spread of lies and promoting media freedom,” he said, reasserting the Sindh government’s commitment to the welfare of journalists and media institutions.