Centre for Media and Democracy (CMD) Pakistan has welcomed the repeal of Pemra laws by the coalition government, saying that more positive steps are needed to free the media from all sorts of curbs. This was expressed at a meeting of the CMD Board of Directors, which was held here on Thursday.
The meeting welcomed the Pemra Amendment Bill 2008, saying, "this was the first step towards making the media free from all curbs". The meeting, however, hoped that more steps would be taken to ensure that all media gags are withdrawn and the government takes practical steps to assist the media in dissemination of credible information to the public.
"There is a dire need for the government to adopt a total free-media policy so as the media outfits could exercise their right of expression and right to report without any pressure or oppression," said the CMD spokesperson in a press statement.
"These developments should come soon as Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, in his first policy statement given on the floor of National Assembly after receiving unanimous vote of confidence on March 29, had expressed the resolve of the new government to dismantle restrictions and curbs placed on the media and had announced the repeal of the amendments made in the PEMRA Ordinance on November 3, 2007," said the spokesperson. The spokesperson expressed grave concern over the recent killings of two working journalists; one each at Hub, Balochistan, and interior Sindh.
"The CMD is concerned over the killing of the working journalists in Balochistan and Sindh. The spokesman added that the CMD meeting extended particular gratitude for the "determined efforts" extended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman for the media freedom.
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