ISLAMABAD: Senator Sherry Rehman lashed out at Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry over his remarks regarding the replacement of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Press Council of Pakistan with new and unified authorities.
Her speech in the Senate was underlined with outrage over how the minister could make such remarks without citing the laws that allow him to introduce such sweeping reforms.
Rehman further said that many members of the press had not been consulted over this decision and the sanctity of free press could be challenged if the newly-elected government governed the parameters of this new, and unified body.
The leader of the Senate suggested that the Information Minister be called to clarify his statement.
“The PTI government has decided to do away with PEMRA and Press Council and form a single, unified authority to oversee print, as well as electronic and cyber media,” Chaudhry told reporters during media interaction outside Parliament House on Thursday.