ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the government was mulling legal action against the cricket boards of New Zealand and England for causing damages worth millions to the state broadcaster after the two sides pulled out of scheduled cricket tours.
Addressing a post-Cabinet press conference in Islamabad, the Information Minister said, “PTV alone has suffered losses worth Rs220 million and we are now seeking our lawyers’ guidance on how to drag New Zealand to court.”
Fawad Chaudhry pointed out that the phrase “absolutely not” comes at a price that nations have to pay. “If you want to keep your head high, then you have to pay the price, and I believe that the Pakistani nation is ready to face this,” he added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had, back in June, clearly said that Pakistan will “absolutely not” give its military bases to the United States for operations in Afghanistan after the latter’s withdrawal of troops.
Meanwhile, Fawad announced that he and Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid would brief the media on what has been transpiring lately. “You will see how fake news and hybrid war are inter-linked,” he added.
The Information Minister also spoke about the electoral reforms, saying that the next election, along with using technology, will be held under new delimitations, also noting that it was imperative to work on electoral reforms.
Fawad Chaudhry said if the Opposition does not agree with the electoral reforms, then it should bring its own proposal. “Their politics only revolves around money. If we drop their cases then they will retire and leave politics,” he hit out at the Opposition.
Referring to the seventh census of Pakistan, the federal minister pointed that it will be the first one to be conducted via technology, adding that it would be completed within 540 days or 18 months.
“We still need a few more details in this regard, and to get them, the prime minister has constituted a committee which will look into the matter and revert to the cabinet,” he added.
The information minister further said he aspired for cinemas to reopen immediately as coronavirus cases witness a gradual decline in the country.
“The government will allow Canadian Punjabi, Iranian, and Turkish movies to be played in Pakistani cinemas”, he said, adding that the government aims to revive the cinema industry.
