Senate body discuss matter of restrictions on media
Chairman PEMRA Saleem Baig informed the committee about the code of conduct issued to the media
ISLAMABAD (APP) – Senate Committee for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage on Tuesday here discussed the matter regarding media concerns over restrictions being imposed on print and electronic media, referred by the House on July 12.
Senator Faisal Javed chaired the committee meeting attended by Senator Moula Bux Chandio and Senator Rubina Khalid.
The Senators heard the viewpoint of President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt and President Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Mubarak Zeb Khan about their concerns over the issue of censorship being faced by the electronic and print media.
Mubarak Zeb told the committee that the distribution of Dawn newspaper was disrupted in certain areas and the committee should pass orders to rectify the situation. Secretary Information Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera told that the Ministry of Information did not take any step that could result in restrictions on the media. He said Pakistan Television was giving fair and equal coverage to all political parties.
The chairman committee directed that the matter should be referred to the federal cabinet so that it could look into the situation.
Chairman PEMRA Saleem Baig informed the committee about the code of conduct issued to the media about coverage of elections.
The committee decided to meet again in the first week of August to take up the issue of restrictions on media.
