Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday announced that a summary has been moved for formulation of a tribunal for the cases related to media, including social media. While addressing a press conference, Dr Firdous said that 587 petitions are pending with the courts with respect to media issues and the courts take a lot of time to hear these. She said a media tribunal, just like a tax tribunal which takes up the cases related the FBR, would help the media grow professionally.
As far as social media is concerned, she said, the amendment can be made in the Section 30A of the Pemra Act in which a clause related to social media can be added, adding that all the stakeholders including media, Cyber Wing of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Law Ministry will be taken on board to make the law more effective. She also announced that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has awarded licences to 58 channels out of 187 applications which had been received to the ministry. She said that the PEMRA has also decided to issue three licences to DTH system after security clearance.
She said that 187 applications of channels have been received until now including 8 news and current affairs, 16 entertainments, 12 regional, 11 educational, 2 agriculture, 5 sports and 4 health channels. She said this will encourage healthy competition, create job opportunity and will also add revenue to the national kitty. New channels will generate Rs 5.3 billion revenue along with Rs 1 billion advance tax, she further said.
She said that issuing the production orders of an assembly member is the speaker's discretion and the government has nothing to do with it.
Dr Firdous said that "newborn political leadership" cannot challenge the government. She said those who were claiming to put Zardari into jail are describing him as a political prisoner now.
She said that media should ask them whether Zardari was right at that time or now. She said that a group of 'looters' is asking the government to explain its 10 months performance. She said that they will explain it after five years as the people have given them mandate for five years. While criticising Vice-President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz, she said that Shahbaz's statement was different than her's, adding that she should settle matters within her party first before trying to damage the government.
She said that the government with the support of its allies will not only get the budget approved from the Parliament, but will also successfully achieve all the set targets.
Separately on another occasion, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will get the federal budget 2019-20 passed on the basis of its numerical majority in the National Assembly. She said that the opposition parties and other parliamentarians must also realise that the passage of the budget is a constitutional and national requirement. She claimed that the people will not take to the streets on the call of the opposition parties. She said that both the PML-N and the PPP are responsible for the problems being faced by the country and the people today. However, she said, "It is our desire to engage the opposition and steer the country out of challenges." Meanwhile, in a tweet, she said opposition is doing politics on budget. She said the budget is prepared for Pakistan and its people and its passage is a constitutional and national requirement. She said the governance and working of institutions are linked with budget approval. She said parliamentary proceedings and opposition leaders' salaries can be ensured onlyy after passage of the budget She said those who have destroyed economy want to further harm people.
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