Journalists Doubt Media Owners Will Stab Them in Back

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Shahzada Zulfiqar cast doubt on media owners who he alleged would collude with the government on the proposed diabolic Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) Act.

He added that the fight would have to be fought alone by the journalists and lawyers, he said during an event attended by both law practitioners and media workers.

پی ایف یو جے کے صدر شہزادہ ذوالفقار کا کہنا ہے کہ میڈیا مالکان تو نئے میڈیا قانون پر حکومت کے ساتھ مل جائیں گئے اور آزادی صحافت کی جنگ آخر میں وکلاء اور صحافیوں کو ہی لڑنا پڑے گی pic.twitter.com/QJow7VaDuQ

— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) June 17, 2021

The media organizations called it a draconian law and recalled that a similar attempt was made during Ayub Khan’s regime to crush press freedom.

The press release said the media bodies would resist the establishment of PMDA legally, demonstratively, and through advertisement campaigns for sensitizing the public.

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However, the statement from PFUJ president has shown that the journalists have no confidence in the media owners.

It also signifies the rift between the people who run the news outlets and who own them.

On June 2, the ministry of information and broadcasting constituted a four-member committee with State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib in chair.

However, both parties exposed to the proposed legislation are required to converge on certain points to protect the interests of journalists before furnishing recommendations to the governmental committee.