Lahore, September 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was met by all the representative journalist organizations including Pakistan Broadcasting Association, APNS, CPNE, PFUJ and PUJ. Talking to media persons, Ch Parvez Elahi said that Media Regulatory Authority is a controversial bill and it should be reviewed. I do not think that Prime Minister Imran Khan will approve such a controversial bill.
He said that media is the fourth pillar of the state and we fully believe in its independence. Freedom of media is also very important for the development of Pakistan. Ch Parvez Elahi said that imposing any kind of restriction on media freedom is not in our own interest, the government and PTI leaders will have to calmly explain that local body and general elections are not far off.
He said that the controversial clause in the bill against media was immediately withdrawn as there was no issue of ego in it. We have always worked for the freedom of media and welfare of its workers because free media is very important for the security and survival of Pakistan. Ch Parvez Elahi further said that record licenses of electronic media were issued during our tenure. We had also openly accepted the criticism of media during our tenure and always took the side of reform from media criticism. I hope that PM Imran Khan will also take the criticism of the media in a positive way.
Mir Ibrahim said that Ch Parvez Elahi always raised his voice for the rights of media, first of all he withdrew the controversial clause by admitting his mistake in the bill against media. Ch Abdul Rehman said that we have come to Ch Parvez Elahi for guidance due to his broad political vision. Rana Azeem said that this is a collective issue of all journalistic organizations.
Secretary Punjab Assembly Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Mir Ibrahim, Mian Amir Mahmood, Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, Kazim Khan, Ayaz Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Salim Bokhari, Sarmad Ali, Shakeel Masood, Rana Azeem, Muhammad Usman, Shehzad Butt, Ayaz Shuja, Zulfiqar Mehto, Mian Tahir and Naushad Ali were also present.
For more information, contact:
Mediacell, Pakistan Muslim League
30-C, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Road,
Gulberg-II, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35878428
Fax: +92-42-35877329
Website: www.pmlmediacell.com