PEMRA’s decision final but forgiving won’t hurt: Rashid

Information minister says commission will be constituted to implement PEMRA laws, claims govt does not want to interfere in PEMRA affairs

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that a commission was being worked out to ensure the implementation of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) laws.

Talking to journalists at the Parliament House on Wednesday, the information minister said that Geo TV’s case was under PEMRA committee’s consideration and the government did not want to interfere in PEMRA’s affairs as it was an independent institution.

The minister said that the government considered the opinion of PEMRA authority as valid and no minister should have the power to influence the closure or opening of any transmission. He added that PEMRA has given its point of view on the matter and the committee’s decision will be final.

To a question, the information minister said that PEMRA had asked for legal opinion on the matter of Defence Ministry’s complaint against Geo TV and it needed some time as all legal aspects had to be taken in view. The Law Ministry has given its legal opinion in this regard, he added.

REGULATING MEDIA’S CONDUCT:

A commission on media’s code of conduct will be constituted after PEMRA recommendations, the minister said, adding that as the minister for information, it was his responsibility to meet all stakeholders in connection with the issues related to media.

Rashid said that the premier has constituted a committee comprising all stakeholders and members of representative media organisations including PBA, APNS and CPNE to formulate a unanimous code of conduct regarding media.

SHOW SOME COMPASSION:

Moreover, the minister said that in the civilized world, apology meant that the person was accepting his mistake and making a pledge not to repeat it again and therefore he attached great importance to apology rendered regarding the transmission of a morning show and by the host Shaista Wahidi.

KEEP ARMY AND POLITICS APART:

Furthermore, the information minister said that Pakistan Army had no political agenda as a national institution. He urged media to unveil the faces who were trying to indulge army in politics. He said that those who spread hatred in the name of sectarianism, religion and through linguistics represented a “sick mentality”.

The minister also reiterated that cable operators should not take law into their hands as nobody was above the law.