Islamabad: Pakistan’s Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Monday that the federal government has decided to withdraw the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, after journalists’ associations voiced concerns over the proposed amendments.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, chaired by Senator Fouzia Arshad, on the proposed amendments under the new Pemra law that redefined “disinformation”, Geo News reported.
The information minister told the meeting that the incumbent government wanted to abolish the old “black” Pemra law through the Pemra Amendment Ordinance.
She said that more recommendations on the law are pouring in, so “it is better” that the next government looks into this matter.
“It is better to have a detailed discussion rather than deciding in a limited time,” she said as only a few days are remaining in the completion of the incumbent government’s term.
However, the journalists’ associations registered strong opposition against the government’s move, saying the proposed amendments should have been discussed.
The Senate had referred the Pemra law to the relevant standing committee of the Senate after it was tabled in the Upper House August 4.
The NA Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting had approved the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in July, with a new definition of disinformation.
PTI