Pemra ordinance does not bar media from positive criticism: Wasi
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Privatisation and Investment Wasi Zafar on Monday said the new Pernra ordinance does not bar the media from positive criticism but it cheeks the practice of defamation and sensitisation of the event.
Talking to Geo television, the minister said even in the Western world and India, there are laws discouraging defamation of individuals by the media. The media in developed country cannot air anything that hurts someone, adding if such thing takes place the affected party can even claim the damages under the law.
The minister said that such laws were non-existent in the country and media was found going beyond the limits.
Wasi said it was President Musharraf who gave unprecedented freedom to media by allowing more than 100 TV channels. Had the government any intention to curb media, the private channels would not have been allowed in the country, he added.
The minister said that sufficient time was given to media organisations to evolve a code of ethics of their own but they failed to do so.
He said killing of innocent people in a terrorist act like suicide is strongly forbidden in Islam. He said media somehow did try to project this aspect. Wasi said some people had developed phobia, and remained busy in criticising the president without any reason.
Some TV channels were airing round-the-clock commentaries with manifest objective of destabilising the government, he said. -APP
Source: The News
Date:11/13/2007
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