Representatives of media organisations call on Pervaiz Elahi

PMDA is a controversial bill and it should be reviewed, says Punjab Assembly speaker

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi held a meeting with representatives of media organisations on Tuesday.

The representatives from All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) were present during the meeting.

In the meeting, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) is a controversial bill and it should be reviewed. “I do not think that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will approve such a controversial bill. Media is the fourth pillar of the state and we fully believe in its independence,” he mentioned.

He said that freedom of media is also very crucial for the development of Pakistan. “Any restriction on freedom of media is not in our own interest. The government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have to be persuaded that local and general elections are not far off.”

The Punjab Assembly speaker expressed hope that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will take the criticism of the media in a positive manner. “I withdrew controversial clause immediately in the bill against media because it does not have an ego issue. I worked always for the independence of media and prosperity of its workers. Independent media is important for the security and survival of Pakistan,” he said.

Pervaiz Elahi further said that record licenses of electronic media were issued during the tenure of the PML-Q. “I also accepted the criticism of media during his tenure with open heart and always took the aspect of reform from the criticism of media.”