Government to lift opposition media ban

Opposition politicians will soon be allowed air their views on state-controlled radio and television, according to Colonel Saulat Raza, spokesman for Pakistan's military government in Islamabad. "The aim of this move is to assure the participation of the general public in matters regarding the revival of true democracy in the country," Raza told IRIN on Tuesday. Asked when the move would be initiated, Raza said "within this week." He added that viewers of state-controlled television and listeners to state radio should expect to see a difference any day now. Meanwhile, the second phase of local election polling in the country is due to begin on Wednesday. On 31 December 2000, local elections were held in 18 selected districts in all four of Pakistan's provinces as part of the government's first devolution of power plan since military leader, General Pervez Musharraf, seized power on 12 October 1999. Musharraf has publicly pledged to hold national elections within the next two years.