MAIDAN SHAHR (Pajhwok): The Maidan Wardak governor on Sunday said some media outlets fueled tribal, religious and political differences through their reports.
Hayatullah Hayat was talking to media representatives at his office in Maidan Shahr, the capital of central Maidan Wardak province.
The governor said he would provide information to the people about his own activities and those of all the provincial departments by holding press conference each month.
He said the press conferences would be aimed at offering himself for accountability to the people and giving the media access to information.
Hayat said the media was one of civil society’s important parts and considered the fourth pillar of a state in democratic regimes.
The governor said some media organisations were involved in fomenting tribal, sectarian and political tension, urging the Information and Culture Ministry to prevent them from doing so.
He did not name any organisation, but said all media outlets should keep supreme Islamic values and national interests.
Independent journalist Abdullah Nizami urged the governor to fully cooperate with media representatives in order they could cover all events taking place in the province.
If problems, gains and social issues were reflected through the media, it would help keep inform people and pave the ground for accountability, the journalist opined.
Another journalist, Qarib Rahman Shahab, said many provincial departments, particularly security organs, refused to share information with reporters, a problem that needed special attention.
He said the problem could be resolved through organizing join sittings of journalists a nd provincial officials.
Pajhwok correspondent Idrees Noori also championed the freedom of speech at the meeting and demanded that security officials should answer questions posed by journalists during security incidents.
He said Pajhwok Afghan News was committed to preserving national interests and would never publish reports that could incite political or tribal tension.
The governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, asked media organisations to contact them for cooperation during their operations in the province.
He said other media groups should open their branches in Maidan Wardak and the provincial administration would fully cooperate with them.
ma
