Islamabad
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has said no compromise will be made on the clauses of Media Development Authority (MDA) bill regarding fake news and the rights of journalists.
Talking to the office bearers of various journalists’ bodies including Fourth Pillar International, Pakistan Federal Union of the Journalists (Professional) and Young Journalist Association in Islamabad on Tuesday, Fawad however said the government will welcome suggestions on the remaining clauses of the proposed bill.
The Information Minister said laws of five countries were studied for the establishment of the Media Development Authority. He said this authority will have two departments of Media Complaints Commission and Media Tribunal. He said there should be no control of government on these departments and an independent commission will be establishment for recruitment in them.
The Information Minister said the government has made payments of seven hundred million rupees to the media houses but they are still not paying salaries to their workers.
Chaudhary Fawad Hussain said it is the first time that the government has earmarked funds for Digital Media.
Government’s proposed Media Development Authority bill has been under criticism by journalists unions and bodies, and has been regarded as ‘attempt to sanction free media’.
The representatives of all media organizations have rejected the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), terming it unconstitutional and draconian law aimed at curbing the freedom of the press.
Different media organizations including APNS, CPNE,PBA, PFUJ and AEMEND released a joint press statement in which they rejected the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority and termed the concept as an unconstitutional and draconian law against the freedom of the press and an expression and step towards imposing the state control to regulate all segments of media under the over-centralized body.
