Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
on Saturday constituted a two-member committee to immediately contact media houses and assess security threats faced by them.
The decision has come following a targeted attack on a DSNG (digital satellite news gathering) vehicle of Express News in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
on Friday that killed three staffers.
The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) grabbed credit of the attack, saying that Express News was targeted for biased reporting against Taliban. Former TTP front man Ehsanullah Ehsan said that despite repeated warnings, the news organization failed to present the point of view of Taliban.
The committee formed today consists of Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid.
The prime minister has directed the committee to immediately present workable solutions to address security threats to the media houses.
Pak Talibs have in the past levelled threats against the country's news media.
Media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said last month that Pakistain was among the world's five deadliest countries for the media in its annual round-up of press freedom violations.
With increasing terrorist attacks in Karachi, the TTP is apparently consolidating its hold over the port city. The Friday's ambush followed suicide kaboom that killed the top anti-Taliban Karachi cop, Chaudhry Aslam and killings at a Sufi shrine on the outskirts of the Sindh capital.