ISLAMABAD, June 1: The Ehtesab Bureau here on Tuesday denied reports that a special media cell comprising the IB and FIA personnel under the supervision of Senator Saifur Rehman had been set up to deal with the “defiant” journalists.

According to an EB spokesman, the news item was incorrect, baseless, misleading and crafted by the opponents of the government. “This seems to be a figment of the opponents of the government to discredit the fair press policy,” he said.

He said the government believed that a free and fair press was an integral part of the democratic process and it had always welcomed constructive criticism of its policies. “It does not believe in coercing or intimidating the working journalists.”

The spokesman pointed out that even the bitter political opponents of the government had free access to spread canards and malicious propaganda against it through press. But the government had displayed extreme sense of tolerance in the spirit of upholding the freedom of press.

Allegations like establishment of special cell to “teach a lesson” to the defiant journalists, is a pack of lies, he said, adding that through the report an effort had been made to turn all leading journalists against the government.

This could be done only by the elements who are trying to create animosity between the government and the press to achieve their ulterior motives, the spokesman concluded.

Source: Dawn

Date:6/2/1999