PESHAWAR, Nov 18: Participants of a workshop have stated that the next general elections needed to be covered impartially and objectively by the media with focus on transparency of the process.

They said that media persons needed to focus on the election process and bring to light the political parties’ plans and manifestos so that masses could vote for the right candidates.

According to a press release issued here on Sunday, the training workshop was organised by the Individualland Pakistan (IL-Pakistan) with support of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stifting. It was attended by around 35 journalists belonging to different media organisations.

The programme coordinator of IL, Shaukat Ali Ashraf, while speaking on the occasion stated that the role of media had enhanced manifold during the last couple of years especially because of the mushroom growth of TV channels.

He added that being a watchdog of the society media had to play an impartial role without supporting a particular political force so that voters could properly exercise their right to franchise.

He said media could ensure good governance and empowerment of masses through transparent elections and media was key to success of democracy.