Media helpline launched for quick redressal of journalists’ complaints

ISLAMABAD (APP): Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said on Monday that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB) has launched a media helpline to redress the complaints of both local and foreign journalists during elections.

Addressing media during the helpline’s launching ceremony, he said in the present era of digital media it was imperative to upgrade and improve working.

He said that the media-complaint application would be accessible through any browser to all local and international journalists, and any media personnel covering the general election 2024.

The minister said that the caretaker government formed under article 224 helped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in every way to ensure a free and transparent election within the timeframe announced by the election body.

He said that only two days were left before the polling day when more than 120 million Pakistanis will exercise their right to vote.

“Only people of Pakistan can choose their representatives by using their right to vote to run the affairs of the country as the preamble of the constitution clearly states that this country will be run by its elected representatives”, he added.

Earlier, Murtaza Solangi inaugurated the media complaint application at the Press Information Department (PID).

This application will help media personnel lodge complaints online quickly and efficiently through mobile phones, laptops and other devices during the coverage of election activities.

PID’s head of digital media while sharing details of the application, said that it would not only resolve the complaints of journalists but also the staff would be deputed to address the complaints of election observers.

He said the application would work as a mediator between different departments and journalists. The complaints would be referred to the departments concerned within no time and then tracked till their resolution

Press Information Officer Tariq Mehmood said that while the application was made primarily to address the complaints of journalists during the general election, however, it would be made a permanent medium to resolve the issues of media personnel in future.

He also announced that an election cell would be set up at the PID on February 7, a day before the general elections, which would be working round the clock to facilitate the journalists.