Pakistan proclaims freedom of Press
RAWALPINDI, JAN. 11–Pakistan’s new Information Minister, Mr. Abdul Hafiz Pirzada yesterday proclaimed the freedom of the Press in the country at a news conference from which foreign newsmen were excluded, report AP and PTI.
Mr. Pirzada called upon every Pakistani to be “man enough to face the truth in regard to their country’s defeat at the hands of India and surrender of the Pakistani Army in Bangladesh”.
He admitted that the former regime fed the people with falsehood. But now the people of Pakistan should not adopt an ‘ostrich’ attitude to realities,” he said.
Mr. Pirzada also accused the Yahya Khan regime of creating confusion in Pakistan and self-delusion among the people through tight Press censorship. Pakistan’s news media he said had been indulging in nothing but fantasy and the credibility gap was fantastic.
Mr. Pirzada recalled that a few days previous to the Pakistani forces surrender in Dacca., the people of Pakistan were being told that the country’s armed forces were advancing on all fronts. The people consequently were not ready for the announcement of surrender to the Eastern front with Indian troops entering Dacca. The next day the nation was stunned, shocked and paralysed by the news that fighting had ceased on the western front also.
The Minister claimed that the assumption of power by Mr. Bhutto prevented a civil war in the country. He said Pakistan should not commit a mistake of this type again.
Foreign newspapers, magazines and journals previounly banned by Pakistan are now to be allowed into the country Mr. Pirzada said.
“Censorship on news having gone, news is not only going out but also coming in,” the Minister said.
President Bhutto has assured foreign correspondents there would be no censorship on their despatches.
Mr. Pirzada also proclaimed Government controlled television stations would show films depicting the surrender of the Pakistani Army at Dacca despite protests.
Mr. Pirzada said angry Pakistanis threatened to burn down the TV station in Karachi when it showed on Sunday night news film of Lt. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi signing surrender documents with the Indian Army in Dacca.
The film also was shown on English language telecasts in Lahore and Rawalpindi but was withdrawn before it could be shown on more widely viewed Urdu newscasts later in the evening.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 12.1.1972