Describing it as an “arbitrary action”, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) lashed out at the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for raiding its secretariat and taking away its record.
The association demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take notice of CCP’s action.
The PBA claimed that officials of the commission raided the association’s secretariat and took away all the important original record and documents “without any reasonable grounds or any prior information or warning”.
It said that the action was tantamount to an attempt to “suppress” media and curb freedom of expression by using “strong-arm tactics” and putting pressure on the parent electronic media body.
The PBA called the CCP’s action against the principles of natural justice as there was no prior notice to the association by the department.
In the meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has also condemned CCP’s raid on PBA’s office.
According to a statement issued, the PTI chief said it was an illegal act to raid PBA office without a notice, adding that his party would not remain silent if any efforts are made to shut media’s voice.
Khan said it was unethical and illegal to seize the data from the office of PBA, claiming that the PTI had already exposed the advertisement plan of the government.
