Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday ruled out setting up the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) as there was no need for any other regulatory body in addition to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

“Whatever work has been done on the black law related to the PDMA and in whatever shape it is … it has ceased to exist. We will not bring any black law which violates the citizens’ constitutional right of freedom of expression,” she said in her maiden news conference after assuming charge of the office.

The minister said the joint action committee, formed in the backdrop of PMDA comprising all the stakeholders, would now work out a solution, which would not only be implementable but also acceptable to all.

As regards the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022, she said another black law through which the previous government had tried to gag the media and its opponents, had been struck down by the court on the petitions filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and multiple organisations.

The PECA, 2016 would be reviewed in consultation with all the stakeholders to ensure effective regulation of social media, she said, vowing that the freedom of expression right would be protected at all costs.

Marriyum said the freedom of expression was not only imperative to evolve the society, but also crucial to good governance.

She resolved to steer the media sector out of the dark era that had brought financial constraints, curbs, threats, physical assaults and unemployment.

Lashing out at the previous rulers for using the law to muzzle the media and crush their opponents, she said in the last four years, the nation only witnessed the politics of bullying, abuse and intimidation.

The suffocation in the society was conspicuous, while the doors of the Parliament were closed and legislation was enacted through ordinances, she added.

The minister said now a new era had begun which would bring the politics of abuse and intimidation to a complete halt.

She said the present government would not mind constructive criticism, urging the media to criticise it for the sake of guidance.

She said the Journalist Protection Law would be implemented in true letter and spirit. “We had not imposed any restriction on the media in our previous tenure and this will not happen now,” she added.

She recalled that PEMRA did not issue even a single notice to any TV channel on holding debates over the Panama Leaks during the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Prime Minister Shehbaz remained Punjab’s chief minister for a decade and had never imposed restrictions on the media.

She said a commission would be set up under the Right to Information Act, enacted during the PML-N’s tenure, for its implementation in an effective way.

She extended gratitude to PM Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N and other coalition partners of the government for assigning her such important responsibility by reposing their confidence in her.

The present era was of information warfare and the information ministry had major a role to play in that regard, she said.

To a query, she said no innocent person would be put behind the bars, but warned that the law would take its course against the wrong doers.

To another query, she said the malicious campaign which was launched through faceless twitter handles against the state institutions would be brought to an end.

There would be zero tolerance against such campaigns and attack on the journalists and their homes, she added.

The Digital Media Wing had been shut down as the Cyber Wing already existed in the ministry, she said while responding to another query.

She said the present government’s sole agenda was to provide relief to the masses by bringing down inflation, creating job opportunities and ending load shedding completely.

Marriyum said the prime minister would address the nation soon and put a priority agenda before the nation.

In response to another query, she said President Dr Arif Alvi should resign if he could not play his constitutional role.

Earlier, she also held conversations with media persons and heard their issues.