No transmission of any TV channel blocked, says Sherry
ISLAMABAD (June 14 2008): Ms Sherry Rehman, Minister for Information and Broadcasting has said that the PPP government has not blocked the transmission of any TV channel from any source. “Government believes in complete freedom of expression and question of pressurising or blocking of any channel by the government does not arise”, a press statement quoted her as saying.
She said that if any programs have been blocked by any force outside the Pakistan government, she makes an open offer to the Geo producers and anchors who have been stopped, to use PTV services live and without any editing until such time as they can re-start or relocate. Minister said Geo English has also been cleared for license issuing upon intervention by PEMRA to fast track its license within this week.
Sherry Rehman said that Pakistan Peoples Party has always been struggling for the freedom of expression and after coming into power it has taken practical steps for ensuring complete freedom of media. The very first legislation enacted by the government was repealing the draconian PEMRA laws.
To remove all sorts of possible restrictions on the freedom of information, a bill has already been sent to the Ministry of Law by the Ministry of Information. The bill will be introduced in the parliament soon after it is approved by the cabinet, she said.
Meanwhile, according to reports of various television channels the Minister said that the central and provincial governments are rather facilitating the media persons for covering the long march. She said that no time limit has been fixed for ending the long march sit-in and the government will not intervene in it.
The Minister said that government on its part has made stringent security arrangements and if any untoward incident takes place during the rally, the responsibility will be on the organizers.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:6/14/2008
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