Cabinet move to repeal changes in Pemra Ord
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft law repealing amendments made to the Pemra Ordinance on Nov 3 last year and restoring it in its original position.
The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, condemned the manhandling of former chief minister of Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim inside the provincial assembly and former federal minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi in Lahore, as well as Wednesday’s violence in Karachi.
The cabinet meeting, which was expected to take up the issue of reinstatement of judges, did not take up the matter because of the exhaustive briefing by the minister for finance.
Information Minister Sherry Rahman told newsmen that the cabinet had expressed grave concern over a clash between two groups of lawyers in Karachi and subsequent acts of violence and described these incidents as a conspiracy against the newly-elected government of Sindh.
Ms Rahman said the violence was handiwork of elements opposed to democracy.
In reply to a question, the information minister said the cabinet had decided that every minister would prepare a report about the situation in his ministry to inform the people and the media what they had inherited from the former government and would introduce a monitoring mechanism.
In reply to a question about the Pemra Ordinance, the minister said that Pemra was a regulatory body which would no more take actions like blocking television channels, stopping live telecast of events or forcing cable operators to take such actions or confiscating their equipment.
She claimed that neither her ministry nor Pemra had ordered the suspension of live telecast of some private TV channels in Karachi a couple of days ago, adding that some cable operators, because of ‘some reservations’ had done it on their own.
She said the prime minister had appealed to the people to remain peaceful and allow the new government to take the process of reconciliation ahead.
The cabinet ordered an immediate inquiry into the incidents of violence in Lahore and Karachi in order to bring culprits to book.
Ms Rahman quoted the prime minister as telling the cabinet that his government would take stern action against those found involved in the acts of violence, irrespective of the party or group they belonged to.
Ms Rahman said it was time for patience and tolerance, adding that parties in the Pakistan Democratic Alliance had demonstrated a spirit of reconciliation so far and they would continue to tread the same path in future as well.
In reply to a question, she said that Dr Arbab Rahim had been provided adequate security on his request.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/10/2008
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