Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said that he was donating 5 million afghanis of his own money to Journalists Support Fund.

Speaking at a ceremony in presidential palace to re-launch the fund, the president said that the fund would receive another 10 million afghanis from government budget.
Describing free speech as the foundation for promotion of citizens’ rights, the president said that the government is not countering media. He said that the media should be accountable to people and enter into dialogue with religious clerics.
The president, however, noted that there is distinction between positive and negative free speech. He hoped that “our tolerance” on media would be an example to others.
During the event, the president also criticized media owners for what he said failing to implement labor law and urged them to consider insurance for their employees.
This comes as attacks on journalists have increased in Afghanistan which has become the deadliest country for journalists this year.