Pakistan Views

Minister for Information Sherry Rehman on Monday said that all laws discriminatory to free press will be removed in consultation with media representatives and the stake holders.Speaking in the Senate on a motion to discuss the performance of Pemra, she said the coalition government has been in power for only five weeks and its first legislative act has been the introduction of repealing the Pemra amendments.”We will dismantle all the laws which put bar on media,” Sherry said.She said the legislation process will be carried out in consultation with all the stakeholders.She warned the Pemra not to do things which it has been doing in the past like shutting down channels and cable operators.”I do not want to hear that any cables or channels were shut down by Pemra on its behalf or by any actor of the state. This is not the policy of PPP (government) and will not be in the future either,” she said. She said the practices in the past by Pemra were ‘black practices’ and must be condemned.She said regulatory bodies like Pemra must have representatives of working media as well as broadcasters association on its board.The interests of the working media, Sherry added, were ignored in the past which must be changed as it is PPP government now which is committed to workers rights.She regretted that in the garb of regulations, curbs have been put on media to serve vested interests.Regulations, she added, were essential but the role of the ministry should be that of a facilitator and not a regulator.She also announced that freedom of expression and access to information bill will soon be introduced in the parliament.She urged the media to form its own code of conduct for which the ministry will facilitate with inputs from stakeholders.Sherry said the last regime brought about tough defamation laws which have been met with strong criticism from media because of penalties for small offenses.She stressed the need for reconciliation for which political maturity was very essential. She said that democracy, for which the PPP gave many sacrifices, remains incomplete without a free media.”The preservation of democratic traditions is possible through an independent media. Without an independent media no democratic process is complete,” she said.She said Benazir gave her life for the spirit of reconciliation and wanted a peaceful transition towards democratic traditions.
Sherry said PPP has greatly suffered from attacks on democracy directly affecting its workers and supporters.She said legislation was the proper way of governance and to rule through issuance of ordinances does not suit any government.Referring to press and publication registration ordinance, she said the government will soon remove it so that there can be no bar on the publication of a newspaper.