Reference against Geo: Law ministry says Pemra should decide the matter

Minister says commission will be set up to implement Pemra’s decision.


Our Correspondent/APP May 21, 2014
nformation Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid, meanwhile, said that no minister should have the power to influence Pemra’s decision. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD:


The law ministry on Wednesday said that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) has the authority to take a decision on a defence ministry reference against Jang/Geo Group as it returned Pemra’s summary to the ministry of information.


In its advice, the law ministry said that as the matter was partially sub judice, Pemra should take a decision on it.

The government has also decided to form a commission to get Pemra’s decisions implemented. The commission will comprise representatives from the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council for Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA).

Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid, meanwhile, said that no minister should have the power to influence Pemra’s decision. “In the recent past some of Pemra’s decisions were not implemented – a situation which has undermined its image,” he said, adding that stay orders were obtained on 22 of Pemra’s decisions.

Talking to media persons at the Parliament House, the minister said that he did not consider it appropriate to give opinion on Pemra’s matters. He added that Pemra’s decision on the reference against Geo would be final and his ministry would not interfere in it.

Replying to a question regarding the meeting of Pemra’s private members in which licences of three of Geo’s channels were suspended, Rashid said he considered the notification more important which was issued by the authority after the meeting.

He said that those who spread hatred in the name of sectarianism, religion and on linguistic basis represent the sick mentality.

To another question, he said that as the minister for information it was his responsibility to meet all stakeholders in connection with the issues related to the media.

He said that Pakistan’s armed forces are indeed a highly dignified institution and “we as a nation need to point out those elements who want to create division among national institutions”.

The minister reiterated that the cable operators should not take law into their own hands as “nobody is above the law”.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2014.

COMMENTS (4)

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply

GEO Network is an anti-Pakistani network and always promotes negative news against Pakistan. The recent example of GEO network of bluntly accusing ISI for assassination attempt against Hamid Mir is one of them. Therefore GEO Network should be immediately banned

Hassan | 9 years ago | Reply

oh... really!! When did the penny drop?

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