Prime Minister to push for implementing National Assembly resolution on obscenity | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Prime Minister to push for implementing National Assembly resolution on obscenity

By: Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Pervaiz Ashraf intends to speak to the Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza for early constitution of a parliamentary committee to devise a strategy for the protection of society from obscenity and vulgarity as has been unanimously resolved by the lower house last week.

A source close to the prime minister said that Pervaiz Ashraf is really happy with the National Assembly’s recent move to check the growing curse of obscenity in the society. The source said that the prime minister would most likely speak to the speaker National Assembly for further actions to get the NA resolution implemented.

On Thursday last the National Assembly of Pakistan unanimously passed a resolution through which the House had expressed its serious concern over the showing of illegal foreign channels through cable network, the growing trends of obscenity and indecency through local channels and the unchecked flow of blasphemous and vulgar material through internet into Pakistan in violation of the Constitution and the relevant laws.

The resolution had not only called upon the Government to direct the concerned authorities including Pemra and PTA to strictly implement laws for positive use of electronic media and internet but also had authorised the speaker National Assembly “to constitute, in consultation with the Chairman Senate, a parliamentary committee with the mandate to formulate a comprehensive policy in this regard, with input from all stakeholders including the media, to ensure that Pakistani society remains secure from the menace of obscenity and vulgarity.”

The National Assembly Secretariat sources said that the Secretariat would take up the issue with the National Assembly speaker for further action as has been resolved by the lower house. The NA in its resolution had appreciated the Pakistani media for having initiated the debate on the issues of illegal foreign channels and obscenity.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan was also appreciated for taking suo moto notice of the issue.Although certain foreign funded dollars driven NGOs are all out to defend obscenity, the National Assembly pledged in voice to protect Pakistan’s social and religious values from all such objectionable material, in line with the teachings of Islam and the Constitution of Pakistan.

According to Information Ministry sources the Pemra’s councils of complaints are also required to be revamped by replacing some existing faces with those people who represent the society’s social and religious values instead of being the protectors of obscenity and secular thoughts.

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