Muhammad Asad
ISLAMABAD: Media’s bleak period is over while Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) has been removed in all its forms and manifestation. It was announced by the newly elected Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb during her first-ever media interaction after assuming the charge of Information Minister in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Marriyum ensured the journalists that their bleak period of the past four years, during which they have been tortured, kidnapped, harassed, censored, attacked, and bullied through unfair and discriminatory laws and intimidation tactics by the previous regime is now over.
According to her, the new sitting PML-N government will beef up its work for formulation of the protection of journalists, bill and Right to Information Act, so Journalists could be protected from illegal harassment and coercion along with enhancement of the public access to government’s information through pro-public legislation. She also announced disbanding of Digital Media Wing and told the reporters that the coalition government would have zero tolerance for curbs on the media, and the government will take all necessary steps to ensure freedom of expression in the country.
According to her, the PTI-established digital media wing that was targeting opposition and national institutions, the government has completely eliminated the digital media wing because there is already existed a Cyber Wing in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting which was functioning under the law in the ministry. While responding to a media query, Information Minister said that government will review the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, Ordinance-2016 (PECA-2016) in consultation with all stakeholders in the coming months.
While answering another question, Marriyum told the reporters that the newly elected Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will address the nation in the next 2-3 days and would present his short-term and medium-term strategies to provide relief to the public.
While commenting on the ongoing malicious social media campaign against the national institutions, Marriyum said that the government has collected data on bot Twitter accounts, that are being used to malign institutions.
While discussing the recent incident of harassment and door knocking of journalists, Marriyum said that the government has issued clear instructions to IGP Islamabad that culprits should be arrested and published to curb this heinous trend in the future.
While lashing out at the party-centric policy of PTI public office holders, Marriyum said that the former government had no respect for the constitutional obligations and its public office holders have no sense of their government roles and are only serving their party’s interests including President Arif Alvi and Governor Punjab.
She was of the view that these PTI public officer holders and other individuals must respect their oath, or they should resign if they were only looking to serve their party interests.
While answering another question, Marriyum said that the incumbent government will not ban any news channel while restoring all those channels and news agencies banned by the previous regime would be a priority of the government.
While answering a media query she said that the government’s primary focus would be on the reduction of inflation and unemployment in the country, while the resolution of the energy problem and development projects of public welfare would be given priority by the coalition government in the coming months.
