LAHORE: PM’s Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Tuesday that labelling elected members with negative titles amounted to “disrespecting the sanctity of [their] office”.
Addressing the media at the Lahore Press Club (LPC), Awan insisted that people must “own and respect” every elected representative of the public on both provincial and federal levels.
“If you label the prime minister with [abusive] titles, it means that jealousy and hatred have taken over your heart […] You are not just criticising the person who is occupying the chair, you are disrespecting the sanctity of the [office],” she said.
“People come and go, but the sanctity of institutions and [executive] office should always remain intact,” she insisted.
She further said that the efforts she had made to resolve the complaints of the journalist community were in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “vision for journalists”.
Earlier in the day, Awan tweeted that Prime Minister Imran Khan has given Eid gift to 820 families by ensuring the release of the helpless prisoners who were languishing in jails despite completion of their sentence due to nonpayment of fines.
She said the release of such prisoners is in line with the Islamic injunctions and also indicates the government cares for the helpless segments of society.
Last week, President Dr Arif Alvi, on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, granted special remission in sentences of the prisoners on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr.
The president announced remission in sentences up to 90 days as per their nature of the crimes while the interior ministry issued a notification in this regard.
