Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has rejected the impression that law has been passed in Pakistan to curb social media freedom.

Speaking during BBC’s ‘Hard Talk’ programme, he said hate speech is a universally recognized fact that has to be curbed and all the states and organizations are duty-bound not to allow hate speeches.

He said he had huge respect for Google, Facebook, and other technology companies. I want them to come to Pakistan to open their offices and we want to do business with them.

Fawad Hussain said the media in Pakistan is enjoying immense freedom. Freedom of expression is a fundamental and democratic right guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.

He said Pakistan is one of the freest states as far as media is concerned. There are about 43 international channels, including BBC, 112 local private channels, 258 FM channels and 1,569 print publications. He said in the presence of such kind of huge mass media, how could the state be accused of intimidating the media.

Source: Radio Pakistan