Controversial Imran-era PMDA disbanded

Newly-appointed Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday ruled out setting up the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), saying no "black law" that restricted people's constitutional right to freedom of expression would be "enacted or worked upon".

She said there was no need for any other regulatory body in addition to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

“Whatever work has been done on the ‘black law’ related to the PDMA and in whatever shape it is … it has ceased to exist. We will not bring any black law which violates the citizens’ constitutional right of freedom of expression,” she said in her maiden news conference after assuming charge of the office.

The minister said the joint action committee, formed in the backdrop of PMDA comprising all the stakeholders, would now work out a solution, which would not only be implementable but also acceptable to all.

The previous PTI regime had suggested the constitution of the PMDA last year which, if established, would have been solely responsible for the regulation of print, broadcast and digital media in the country.

The recommendation was severely censured by journalists, activists and the then-opposition. The PML-N leader at the outset expressed solidarity with journalists.

She maintained that her party remained involved with the media during the past four years in its struggle against “censorship”, adding that several media workers were sacked from their jobs and targeted for fulfilling their duties.

She noted that freedom of expression in a society strengthened the state. "The media enables accountability of governments, thus enhancing the latter's performance."

She said with the existence of Pemra there was no need of any other media regulatory body.
As regards the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022, she said another “black law” through which the previous government had tried to “gag the media and its opponents”, had been struck down by the court on the petitions filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and multiple organisations.

The PECA, 2016 would be reviewed in consultation with all the stakeholders to ensure effective regulation of social media, she said, vowing that the freedom of expression right would be protected at all costs.

The information minister lamented that the ordinance was earlier used to file an FIR against a journalist and torture him during a raid at his residence.

Further, she said, the Journalist Protection Law would be implemented in true letter and spirit. “We had not imposed any restriction on the media in our previous tenure and this will not happen now.”
She said a commission would be set up under the Right to Information Act, enacted during the PML-N’s tenure, for its implementation in an effective way.

To a query, Marriyum said, the “malicious campaign” which was launched through faceless Twitter handles against state institutions would be brought to an end.
There will be zero tolerance against such campaigns and attacks on journalists and their homes, she added.

The Digital Media Wing set up by the previous government has been shut down as the Cyber Wing already existed in the ministry, she said while responding to another query.

The federal information minister recalled that the people witnessed “abuses” aimed at opposition, media and parliament during the tenure of the previous government.

Due to this there was a decline in discourse and the listening to arguments from the other side, she observed.

“Legislation through ordinances closed the doors of parliament while the media remained oppressed,” she added.

“The incumbent government is the representative of all parties and together we will end the [political] chaos.”

Marriyum stressed that the government would not indulge in “vengeful accountability” against its rivals, saying “no innocent person would go behind bars”.

She, however, made it clear that the law would take its course against those who misused their authority and deprived Pakistanis of their basic necessities.

With input from APP