ISLAMABAD: Newly-appointed Information Minister Marriyum said President Arif Alvi should resign if he is unable to fulfill his constitutional responsibility.
President Alvi had refused to administer oath to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal cabinet which was conducted by Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani. He had earlier refused to administer oath to the prime minister as well.
Addressing a press conference shortly after taking oath as the information minister, Aurangzeb said the president is a representative of the federation and should dispense his constitutional responsibilities or step down. She said the Governor Punjab is also refusing to administer oath of elected Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz.
PDMA disbanded
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) was being disbanded and no “black” law would be enacted or worked upon that would restrict the people’s constitutional right to freedom of expression.
“The attempt to bring a black law to restrict the voice of the media … I announce today that the PMDA in whatever shape or form it was working till now is being disbanded,” she said.
She said a joint action committee comprising all stakeholders, including media organisations, would meet to discuss the media’s problems and a consultative solution would be found
She asserted no regulatory authority would be established other than the already functioning Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
PECA ordinance reviewed
The information minister said the previous government tried to bring a “black law” — Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 — that was struck down by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
She shared that the Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar had decided to review the PECA law introduced in 2016 in consultation with all stakeholders to identify any gaps hinder freedom of expression.
Aurangzeb expressed solidarity with journalists whose programmes were taken off-air under the previous government. In addition, the bill related to journalists’ protection would be implemented soon, she said.
‘New era’
She said the people of Pakistan had “heard abuses and witnessed thuggery” whether it was on the opposition, parliament or media during the four years of the PTI government.
“The opposition was thrown into the wheels of death to save the government, the doors of parliament were closed by legislating through ordinances and the media was oppressed. I want a new era to start. This chaos should end.
“The people of Pakistan know that the incumbent government is representative and all political parties are included. Together, we will end this chaotic situation.”
She said the new government would not continue the tradition of “bad accountability” against political opponents as seen during the PTI’s tenure and no innocent person would be sent to jail.
Responding to a question on whether the government would take action on anti-army and anti-judiciary campaigns on social media, she said action had already been initiated against those accounts.
