Marriyum censures govt over PMDA

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb has slammed the PTI-led government for its “draconian and autocratic measures” to deny Pakistani journalists their constitutional right to peaceful protest against the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA).

There is a general impression that the government intends to curtail the independence of media and tighten control over journalists through the PMDA.

In a series of tweets, Marriyum said, “Fascist [PM] Imran Khan had abused the state machinery to block democratic and peaceful protest by journalists from across the country against the PMDA black law.”

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She said the journalist fraternity had stood up for the sanctity of their journalistic values and right to freedom of expression and press as granted to them by the constitution.

The PML-N leader reminded the nation that the same PTI had staged a 120-day sit-in against the elected premier at D-Chowk, “attacked, battered and wounded policemen, hung dirty laundry on the august building of the Supreme Court, cursed parliament, attacked PM House, gave a call for civil disobedience, and asked people to reject formal banking channels and conduct financial transactions through hundi to sabotage national economy”.

She said the PML-N government at the time allowed the PTI to practise their constitutional rights within the bounds of law.

“However, the same PTI did not have the audacity to even allow journalists their right to protest peacefully and deployed scores of security personnel and put up barricades to prevent protest against the tyrannical media development authority law that seeks to gag news media and silence the truth.”

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