The hot debate on Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) has started as all stakeholders have decided to put the bill under scrutiny.
Besides the opposition members, the owners of media houses and journalists’ organizations will also put forward recommendations on the proposed authority.
It has been decided to establish a joint committee of stakeholders to review PMDA which the media workers say suppress their freedom.
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The agreement was reached during a meeting of the representatives of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), different factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib.
NA panel meets
Further, the meeting of the sub-committee of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on PMDA framework was convened by Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib has assured that the government will not promulgate an ordinance for establishing PMDA neither there was any draft ready.
He added that they plan to unite seven laws and regulatory bodies under the new authority.
The state minister criticized Marriyum Aurangzeb for joining the protest of the journalists against PMDA and labeling its black law.
He urged the convener of the sub-committee to maintain neutrality over the bill being deemed as controversial by the media industry.
Similarly, PTI MNA Kanwal Shauzab has also raised questions on the neutrality of the convener.
She said that Marriyum Aurangzeb rejected the bill without consultation.
PPP MNA Nafisa Shah also backed Kanwal’s stance and said the matter should have been first brought before the sub-committee.
The proposals for the authority have been listed below in the document which the new panel of stakeholders will review.
Under the new bill, the digital media platforms will be brought under the tax net as well.
They will not be required to obtain a license but it will be mandatory for getting registered under a government body.
PFUJ supports PMDA
Meanwhile, PFUJ Professionals President Mazhar Iqbal told the committee that they do not reject the bill but want to discuss the proposals.
He termed the PMDA as a blessing for media workers as it will decide the cases on non-payment of salaries and violation of contract terms in 3 weeks.
PFUJ Workers President Pervez Shaukat said that there is no law regarding the hiring and dismissal of media workers.
He said journalists are deprived of their 10-months salaries and they are suddenly fired.
Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) President Siddique Sajid told the committee that the Journalists and Media Professionals Protection Bill has been pending for a long time.
He added that all political parties should support working journalists.
He also sought approval of the PEMRA Amendment Bill from the Senate which would link advertisements for a media house to clearance of dues.
Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed the hope that the Journalists and Media Professionals Protection Bill would be passed by the Standing Committee on Human Rights soon.
She directed all stakeholders to send their recommendations by September 21.