Asad Umar believes that democracy cannot work without free media.

ISLAMABAD,– Asad Umar, the Federal Minister of Planning, has stated that democracy cannot work without independent media, and that there is always opportunity for development in any system.

Speaking at a World Democracy Day event, the federal minister for planning stated that the media must play a role in promoting democracy because it is experiencing difficulties all around the world. He stated that greater efforts must be made to foster democracy in the country.

According to Asad Umar, in a democratic system, everyone is responsible, democracy is incomplete without an independent court, and democracy cannot operate without free media.

He stated that fake news is spreading on a regular basis and that if it harms someone’s personality or causes negativity in society, there must be a mechanism in place to prevent such news.

Minister stated that Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of Information, should listen to media owners and journalists. No minister of information should have the authority to prevent a journalist from speaking the truth. When people believe they are a part of the system, it supports democracy, he says.

He stated that the court might be independent of the government but not above the law. Using parliament for personal benefit is not what democracy is all about; it is something that must be defended all the time.

In her remarks at the event, Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari stated that the opposition is politicising every law and threatening the administration in order to safeguard its plunder.

She stated that the opposition desires a corrupted and rigged system. She concluded that the opposition does not know Imran Khan and that he will run a fair election.