Karachi, Nov 19 : Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto today termed the freedom of press and media as essential, saying that the steps taken by President General Pervez Musharraf are tarnishing the image of the country abroad.

During her visit to the office of Geo TV, whose transmission was blocked by the incumbent government there, Pakistan Peoples Party chief said that her party respects freedom of press.

Speaking about her meeting with the US envoy to Islamabad Anne W Patterson, Bhutto said that Washington wants the moderate forces in the country to come together and work in unison towards strengthening the democracy.

Bhutto denied any meeting with Musharraf, saying this kind of rumours are meant to misguide the people.

Regarding the Supreme Court's decision to throw petitions challenging the legality of the President's re-election, Bhutto said one should not be surprised at the decisions of the newly formed Supreme Court.

Earlier in the day, the newly constituted bench of the Supreme Court dismissed five of the six major petitions that challenged Musharraf's presidential bid.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, who is imprisoned in Dera Ghazi Khan prison, has begun hunger strike unto death for restoration of the constitution and reinstatement of the judges that were deposed under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).

Quoting sources, The News reported that Khan has said of continuing the hunger strike till the judiciary was returned to its pre-November 3 shape, before emergency was imposed in the country, (ANI)