ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday rejected the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2023 and vowed to thwart all attempts to undermine media freedom.
Reacting strongly to the PEMRA Amendment Bill, the PTI spokesperson alleged that the ‘puppet government’ had violated the Constitution for the past 15 months and had imposed a reign of terror to silence sensible dissenting voices in the country.
He said that PTI is the only federal and largest political party in the country which will resist any attempt to curb freedom of expression and will raise its voice in every forum in support of freedom of press in the country.
The spokesman maintained that imposing censorship to control the media and freedom of expression was unacceptable, adding that the ‘puppet government’ proved to be the worst exploitative and unconstitutional regime in the country’s history.
In the absence of Pakistan’s largest representative political force, legislation by the government has no significance, he added, adding that suppression of freedom of expression is the prime agenda of the government imposed by a conspiracy.
The spokesperson said that the sensitivity of the issue can be gauged from the fact that the name, statement, picture and speech of Imran Khan, the head of Pakistan’s largest political party and former prime minister, was banned illegally, unconstitutionally and unjustified.
The media was forced to promote and publish certain narratives by criminalizing dissent, the spokesman said, adding that PEMRA, being an ally of criminals, supported a hate media campaign against PTI and government critics in the country.
Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Umar Ayub Khan termed the PDM as a fascist government which opened the floodgates of inflation and did nothing for the people. Umar said that the seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the price of flour increased from Rs 60 to Rs 170 per kg and sugar from Rs 85 to Rs 150 per kg.
Similarly, he compared the increase in petrol price from Rs 150 to Rs 255 per liter and the dollar from Rs 170 to Rs 290. He further said that the per unit rate of electricity has increased from Rs 16 per unit to Rs 50 per unit and in a few days it will be Rs 58 per unit.
Umar Ayub noted that the rate of interest had risen alarmingly, rising from 8 percent to 22 percent. He said that the PDM ruling group has multiplied the sufferings of the people as they do not care about the state and people’s interests.
