Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 29, 1429    

Govt will repeal all discriminatory media laws: Sherry

Islamabad—Minister for Information Sherry Rehman has expressed resolve of the government to repeal all black and discriminatory media laws to ensure growth of healthy society.

She was winding up debate in the Senate on Monday on a motion moved by Professor Khurshid Ahmed on the overall performance of PEMRA.

The Information Minister said a Freedom of Expression and Access to Information Bill would be introduced in the parliament and in this regard a conference of all stakeholders has been convened on 15th of this month.

She urged the media to evolve its own code of conduct and the government was willing to facilitate the process. She made it clear that the present government does not believe in censorship or imposing a code of conduct.

About PEMRA, the Information Minister said the relationship of the government with the regulatory body was solely confined to ensuring that it is not abused to gag the media.

She agreed that PEMRA should have representation from Broadcasters’ Association as well as working journalists and their unions.

Regarding Press Council, she said this useful institution could not take off so far because media has not been able to nominate its representatives in the Council.

The mover and other members expressed the view that PEMRA was a productive organization but it has failed to perform its real responsibilities. They were of the view that it was used as a tool for censorship, harassment and intimidation of the press and media persons.

Some members pointed out that PEMRA failed to take note of what happened to media in Karachi on 12th of May and attack on a private television channel office in Islamabad.

Others emphasized that instead of legislation through ordinances, laws should be debated thoroughly in the parliament and enacted after necessary input from the public and other stakeholders.

Those who spoke on the motion included Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar Bhinder, Muhammad Azam Swati, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, Dr. Kausar Firdous, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Naeem Hussain Chatha, Muhammad Hussain, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, Dr. Khalid Ranjha and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri.