Pervaiz Rashid appears before PEMRA panel

ISLAMABAD:

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid on Thursday appeared before the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Council of Complaints voluntarily in TV anchor Dr Shahid Masood’s case.

Talking to journalists after appearing before the council, the minister said he was not legally bound for the personal appearance, but "I appeared on my own considering it a moral obligation, not legal, so that a precedent can be set that all are equal before the law."

The minister said that it was the responsibility of every citizen to follow the laws in letter and spirit. "I am here and it was also the responsibility of Dr Shahid Masood to appear, but he did not," he added.

Pervaiz Rashid said he had commented on a TV programme of Dr Shahid Masood in which unethical conversation was uttered. He was of the view that the Pemra council must have an opportunity to determine 'who is wrong and who is right.' He clarified that his comments were not in violation of the code of conduct issued by the regulatory body. However, he said, the matter was with the council and it would not be appropriate to further comment on it.

The minister said he wanted to listen to Dr Shahid Masood himself and present his stance before the council, however, advocate for the complainant had informed the council that his client was in the United States and would return on April 2.

Counsel for the minister Barrister Zafarullah, said in a case of Senator Ishaq Dar, efforts were made time and again through different means to serve a notice to Dr Shahid Masood, but he had not received it yet. He asked Dr Shahid Masood to receive the notice in the case so that law could follow its course. Barrister Zafarullah said Dr Shahid Masood had levelled baseless allegations against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, attempting to defame his client. The attitude is violation of the law and code of conduct, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2016.