PM Nawaz, Gen Qamar offer security assurances for PEMRA staff

Strict action will be taken against those who are creating hurdles in establishing writ of PEMRA, says statement

ISLAMABAD: Days after the media watchdog’s chief expressed his serious concerns about alleged threats to him and employees of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa have taken notice of the issue and assured their complete support.

“This is a welcome step and investigations are already underway,” said Pemra Chairman Absar Alam during the Regional General Managers (RGM) conference held at the Pemra headquarters on Thursday, a statement issued by the regulatory authority said.

پیمرا ملازمین کو دھمکیوں پر وزیر اعظم، آرمی چیف کے دفاتر کا چئیرمین ابصار عالم سے رابطہ، تحفظ کی یقین دہانی، تحیقات کا آغاز کر دیا گیا pic.twitter.com/PsGRU6rYnS

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) May 11, 2017

“They have further conveyed that strict action will be taken against those who are creating hurdles in establishing the writ of Pemra,” he added.

Earlier, at a news conference on May 8, the Pemra chairman had said that he and his employees were on the receiving end of numerous threats. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Pemra to continue performing its duties in these conditions.”

He had also appealed to the prime minister, chief justice of Pakistan, and chief of army staff to provide security to Pemra employees.