Taliban govt should tolerate free media: CPJ official

Pajhwok (Pajhwok): An official of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has asked the caretaker government of Afghanistan to tolerate free media and not consider criticism an action against the regime.

Steven Butler, the committee's program coordinator for Asia, in a statement said that Afghan government officials should refrain from arresting journalists and using tactics that intimidate them.

He said the government should be able to tolerate free media and that criticism should not be considered an action against them.

The statement called on the government to tell its intelligence officials not to put more pressure on journalists.

The statement specifically mentioned former Kabul News reporter Gibran Lawrand, who claimed Afghan intelligence officials pressured him to end his programs.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the government and deputy minister of information and culture, said at a meeting on the occasion of World Press Freedom Daythat the government was committed to cooperating with the media and journalists.

However, he urged the media to pay attention to Islamic values, media principles and national interests in its broadcasts.

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