Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday called on the media to exercise caution when discussing matters related to Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, citing \u201cunease\u201d voiced by \u201cfriendly countries\u201d. He made the remarks while addressing a press conference alongside Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudry. The press conference came against the backdrop of conflict in Iran, which has been embroiled in a war with the United States and Israel since the latter\u2019s February 28 strikes, prompting retaliatory strikes from Iran on neighbouring countries, which house US bases. Taking note of the recent escalation in the Middle East following US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the minister stressed the need for caution in the \u201cnarrative on these matters on social media, electronic media, and print media\u201d. \u201cAs a nation, we must keep in mind that when expressing our views, we have to keep the constitution and Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy under consideration,\u201d he said. He added that the analyses coming out of Pakistan had caused \u201cunease on diplomatic fronts from at least a friendly country or some other corner\u201d. \u201cWe have been asked if this was Pakistan\u2019s stance or an individual one,\u201d he added. At the outset of the press conference, the minister reiterated Pakistan\u2019s stance on the tensions in the Middle East, stating that the country had been pushing for efforts to \u201cfind a diplomatic solution\u201d to the conflict. In light of the prevailing situation, the minister urged the need to be careful in the \u201cnarratives coming from media as well as social media\u201d. \u201cPakistan is a responsible state and a nuclear state. Pakistan has an essential role in the region; it has its own identity and its own stance in terms of its defence and foreign policy,\u201d the minister said. He noted that Article 19 of the Constitution guaranteed freedom of expression and read it aloud, stressing that there would be \u201creasonable restrictions\u201d on it under the law. \u201cYou have the fundamental right to freedom of expression, but you must be careful when it comes to the glory of Islam, the integrity, security and defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, and friendly relations with foreign states.\u201d The law minister held that while it was the right of every Pakistani to \u201cexpress their opinion, we must not abandon the limits laid out in the constitution\u201d. \u201cAs far as Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy is concerned and its relations with the Gulf [\u2026] we can not speculate if Pakistan is with Iran, then what could it mean for its relations with Saudi Arabia [\u2026] or if we are with the UAE, then what does that mean for our relations with Saudi Arabia.\u201d \u201cLeave that to the state to decide,\u201d the minister said, urging people to have \u201cfaith\u201d in the state\u2019s decisions. He reiterated that \u201csuch analyses must be made with utmost caution\u201d. He further maintained that \u201csuch discussions did not fall under freedom of expression\u201d. The law minister recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held multiple phone calls with his counterparts in the region. He stressed that Pakistan aimed to \u201cplay its part\u201d in coordination with \u201cbrotherly countries to resolve tensions\u201d. The minister once again urged media professionals to \u201clook at the extent to which the Constitution allowed one to speak on Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy\u201d. The information minister during the presser took note of online content creators, who he said were \u201csensationalising\u201d issues of foreign policy. \u201cPakistan has its foreign policy, and it maintains a balance in terms of the relations we share with our respective muslim countries,\u201d he said, advising against \u201cdiscrediting it for views and providing our own interpretations instead\u201d. He maintained that the issue must not be viewed through \u201cthe same dynamics as that of local politics\u201d. On being asked whether a vlog had caused any concern for Pakistan\u2019s relations with any country, the law minister answered: \u201cNo relation has been impacted, and neither will it. \u201cWe only have to exercise caution considering the sensitivity of the situation,\u201d he said, stressing that at this time, the country needed \u201cresponsible journalism\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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