Pakistan improved 7 points in World Press Freedom ranking.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the country had improved seven points in World Press Freedom ranking which reflected that the media enjoyed complete freedom during tenure of the coalition government that believed in freedom of expression. The world press freedom ranking was release by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) the other day. The minister, in a news statement, said the coalition government had been taking tangible measures to protect journalists in line with the vision of Shehbaz Sharif who fully believed in freedom of media.

"The Constitution of Pakistan not only guarantees freedom of the press, but also allows all the citizens to access accurate information," the minister said while paying tribute to those journalists who lost their lives in search of truth. She also recalled "difficult period" for journalism in Pakistan especially during a period from 2018 to 2022. During the four years of PTI rule, there was a "mysterious censorship" in the country that terrified journalists. In 2017, Pakistan was ranked 139th in the World Press Freedom Index mainly due to the PTI's anti-media policies, she said, adding the country's ranking was dropped by 12 points.

Marriyum said Imran Khan who ruled the country for four years was given the shameful title of "Press Freedom Predator". Imran Khan has not only silenced journalists but also got them kidnapped, she said, declaring the PTI's four-year tenure "the most dangerous period" for media persons. She said by imposing restrictions on media, one might mislead the people but ultimately the truth prevailed. The previous government used different tactics to muzzle the voice of journalists, she said, adding Imran vented out the anger of his failures on journalists and media institutions instead...