Mardan - Minister of State and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan on Saturday said the issue of Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) would be solved soon.  

Addressing a function to hand over Rs5 million grant cheque to the cabinet of the Mardan Press Club, he said, “Journalists don’t belong to any government, they work for the people, state and country.” Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, members KP Assembly Iftikhar Mashwani, Abdus Salam Khan, Amir Farzand Khan and Malak Shokat, president press club Lutfullah and general secretary Riaz Mayar also spoke on the occasion. 

Ali Mohammad Khan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and other cabinet members are against the restriction on converting religion before the age of 18 years, saying that if someone aged 14 years wished to convert to some other religion, he could “not be stopped.” He said that there are several examples in Islam of religious conversion before 18. He argued that Khalifa Hazrat Ali (RA) became a follower of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) at the age of 9 to 11 years.  

The minister also insisted that if someone wished to change religion before reaching the age of 18, it is his choice. He said the issue was created in some districts of Sindh province and the Prime Minister has established a committee to solve the issue.  

He said the issue would be solved on district level through district administration. He said the federal and provincial governments are trying their best to provide relief to the masses.  

Ali Mohammad said that when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was in opposition, the media played a great role. He said that due to the role of the media PTI came into power.  

Speakers on the occasion paid tribute to senior journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai. They said that an era of journalism had ended with the death of Rahimullah Yusufzai as his grip on Afghan affairs and issues pertaining to border areas were unmatched and no one could reach that level. They said that the death of Rahimullah Yusufzai has created a vacuum in the field of journalism.