ISLAMABAD, Dec 05 (TNS): 8 day Protest against media gag outside National Press Club called off after Gov’t and opposition assures journalists of taking their grievances into consideration
The protest demonstration was mutually held by various Journalist Unions including Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD), and Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) to protest against Gov’t action to mute electronic media while dealing with the religious protesters at Faizabad on 25th November.
The sit in was called as a part of advocacy for amendment or revocation of the section 5 of PEMRA.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb along with opposition leader in the Parliament Mr.Khursheed Shah and others concerned to the Parliament paid a visit to the camp and beside expressing solidarity with the protesting journalists assured them that their grievances would be taken into consideration.
Marrayam Aurangzaib has said that she agrees about what has been said about the 25 Nov Gov’t action and the demand to review the black laws made in the era of dictators however the expression of freedom also demands greater responsibility.
The State Minister for Information and Broadcasting said that blacking out the media on the day of operation against Faizabad protestors was a difficult decision. However, it was taken in the national interest as the channels were giving live coverage to the operation, which was contrary to PEMRA laws. She said the government had asked the television channels not to give live coverage to the event.
She said that the government is already working for the amendment in the PEMRA Act. We will stop it and prepare the amendment which will then be sent to the parliamentary committees for review.
The government is committed to the freedom of expression. This is the time to strengthen democracy in the country, and the PML-N has always talked about the sanctity of the vote.
Leader of opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah in the National Assembly while expressing solidarity with the journalists said that the section 5 of PEMRA reminds him of dictators. He said that his party is ready to support Gov’t government for the revocation of the said law.And if it fails to present a bill in this regard they w’d do it by themselves.
Information said that controversial clause of the Pimera Act will be revoked, Minister for Information, Mary Aurangzeb ,Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, Parliamentary Secretary Mohsen Shah Nawaz Ranjha, Members Parliament Center, Robina Khalid, Center, Aajaz Dhamra, PPP Senior leader of Choudhari Mansoor Ahmed, former Beiraktor Raidid Khan, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, Member FECFJ Javed Nasir Malik, Nasir Zaidi, President National Press Club Shakeel Anjam, senior journalists including Arshad Sharif also spoke on the occasion.
