Islamabad, September 11 (TNS): The government on Monday denied working on a proposal to establish an authority that would regulate matters pertaining to press and publication.
“The minister of state and the Secretary, Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage (MIB&NH) were unaware about such proposal published in local media”, says a press release issued by the MIB&NH.
The statement further said that there is no proposal in government circles to control print media.
The press release also rejected media reports that government was working for preparation of ‘Pakistan Print Media Regulatory Authority”.
Eelier, media reports have suggested that the government is likely to enact the law through an ordinance or get it passed through parliament.
Reports also added government has prepared a draft law to control media and impose more restrictions on the freedom of press.
“The speed with which the law is being prepared has sent alarm bells ringing in the journalist community, including the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE). The two representative bodies have been accusing the government of not taking them into confidence”, media reports went on to say.
