PFUJ hits out at Pemra bill
KARACHI, May 18: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has termed the amendments in the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) bill passed by the National
Assembly on May 16 a blow to freedom of expression. In a
statement on May 17, the PFUJ said the government through some of the clauses of the bill had given “extraordinary powers to Pemra, while the little relief earlier given in the ordinance has been withdrawn.”
The PFUJ said there were at least six to eight clauses which needed debate in the media and discussion with and among media organizations.
The government was trying to give an impression that restrictions on the issuance of licences for cross-media
ownership had been lifted with the bill, the PFUJ said and
newspaper managements need to look into clauses under which Pemra can impose a ban on channels in the name of “national interest, national security, ideology of Pakistan and vulgarity”.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/18/2005
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