Islamabad, Apr 20: Pakistan’s newly appointed Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has announced the disbanding of Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), Dawn reported on Wednesday.
She made this announcement soon after taking oath as the information minister, where she said no “black” law would be enacted or worked upon that would restrict the people’s constitutional right to freedom of expression.
“The attempt to bring a black law [in the form of the PMDA] to restrict the voice of the already under-pressure media … I announce today that the PMDA in whatever shape or form it was working till now is being disbanded.”
Just before her press conference, Aurangzeb expressed solidarity with journalists, including Matiullah Jan, Hamid Mir and Asad Toor and those whose programmes were taken off-air by the previous government.
A joint action committee comprising all stakeholders, including media organisations, would meet to discuss the challenges and problems being faced by the media, adding that a middle ground would be found that would be workable and acceptable to all.
Aurangzeb stressed that no regulatory authority would be established other than the already functioning Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
Journalists, activists and the then-opposition had criticised the PTI government’s proposal to establish the PMDA last year, which if set up, would have been solely responsible for the regulation of print, broadcast and digital media in Pakistan.
Aurangzeb recalled the “black law” ? Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 which the previous government tried to bring in but was later struck down by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
She said that the newly appointed Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar had decided to review the Peca law introduced in 2016 in consultation with all stakeholders, including the parts where the right to freedom of expression was “misconstrued” and gaps were present, adding that the bill related to journalists’ protection would be made implementable soon, she said. (UNI)
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