Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
The Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday passed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Amendment Bill 2023.
The bill was tabled by Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, two days after she had withdrawn the bill over fierce opposition.
Following the protest of journalists, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb on August 7 announced to take back the PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023. The minister made the announcement during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information.
Speaking in the meeting, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the government wanted to abolish the ‘black laws’ of PEMRA and added she respects the reservations raised by the journalists’ community on the few sections of the bill.
She said the definition of misinformation and disinformation in the bill is in accordance with the UN human rights council and twelve countries. The Minister said it is aimed at protecting the rights of working journalists, regretting that a deliberate attempt was made to make it controversial.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said the government, under the bill, will not give ads to the media outlets which do not clear the dues of media workers in two months. The Information Minister recalled the parties in the coalition government have waged a struggle for freedom of expression. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the House a delegation of journalists met the Prime Minister yesterday describing the bill a milestone for the journalist community. He said the PM after talks with the journalists, gave the direction to get the bill approved.
The House also passed three other bills.
These included the Federal Prosecution Service Bill, the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Amendment Bill, 2023 and the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Bill, 2023.
Other bills passed by the house today included Askari Institute of Higher Education Bill, 2023, the Metropolitan International Institute of Science and Technology bill, 2023, the Mufti Azam, Islamic University, Islamabad bill, 2023, the Islamabad University of Health Sciences and Emerging Technologies Islamabad Bill, 2023, the International Islamic Institute for Peace, bill 2023, the Kalam Bibi International Women Institute Bannu Amendment Bill, 2023, the Rahim Jan University bill, 2023 and the Akhuwat Institute Kasur Bill, 2023.
