A mediation committee will meet on Friday to initiate scrutiny of a bill aimed at allowing newspapers' owners to establish radio or television channels.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) bill was passed by the National Assembly in May last but it could not be taken through the Senate within the mandatory 90-day period and, thus, lapsed.
This is the first meeting of the mediation committee, a new instrument incorporated in the constitution under the 17th amendment. It is designed to take up bills on which there is disagreement between the National Assembly and the Senate.
Media bodies have voiced concern over new provisions in the Pemra bill ever since it was introduced. They fear it will infringe upon the media freedom by vesting vast powers in the hands of the executive to prosecute and punish journalists.
The government, however, has been denying this on the pretext that the bill is aimed at allowing cross-media ownership.
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) Senator Farahtullah Babar has formally moved the chairman of the committee to open its proceedings for media. In a letter to the chairman, he said the bill was of critical importance for the freedom of media and must be made open to journalists.
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