=> ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the Senate Mian Ra
ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday demanded that the two ordinances namely the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 and the Pemra (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 be repealed immediately.
“If these ordinances are not repealed, the combined opposition in the Senate will move resolutions of disapproval under article 89 of the Constitution immediately after Eid,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Rabbani said it was unfortunate that 42 days had passed and the ban on Geo TV was still continuing. “It is a matter of grave concern that Pemra has asked other TV channels not to show live programmes or take live calls and threatened these channels with cancellation of licenses if they fail to comply,” he added.
He regretted that in order to continue its pressure on the media, the government advertisements to various publications, particularly the Jang Group, had been stopped. It is demanded that these arbitrary curbs be lifted immediately, he said. He also demanded that FIRs registered by the police against the RIUJ and the PFUJ members throughout the country be withdrawn immediately.
He recalled that the Senate did not pass the original Pemra bill as passed by the National Assembly, therefore, it was referred to the mediation committee of both houses under article 70 of the Constitution. Rabbani said the combined opposition managed to clip some of these powers but subsequently after three months of the passage of the bill from the parliament, the regime brought back the powers deleted by the parliament through another ordinance. “This made clear the intent of the regime that it does not believe in a free press and wants to keep the media under pressure,” he added.
Rabbani said the imposition of November 3 emergency was an unconstitutional step, therefore, all steps taken, actions done and laws promulgated were ultra vires of the Constitution.
“The ordinance issued with regard to gagging of the press is of no legal effect and the state continues to enforce laws which do not exist,” he added.
Source: The News
Date:12/20/2007
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