It was decided during the 9th meeting of the committee, which was held in the Parliament House under the chair of committee Chairperson MNA Marvi Memon.

Under the ToRs, the task force would identify the needs, if any, for amendments, changes, etc in sections of media laws, rules, regulations including “definitions” and substantive provisions so as to accurately reflect contemporary realities and factors such as new technologies, and to propose specific amendments to existing laws, rules and regulations for consideration by the respective legislatures.

The task force would also draft the texts for new laws, rules and regulations in the light of contemporary conditions and emerging trends, and with reference to the recommendations of the media commission as unanimously endorsed by the national assembly standing committee on information, broadcasting and national heritage in its meeting on 16th April 2014.

The task force would also develop a monitoring framework for committee reference to have an oversight on the implementation of the existing and the amended laws rules regulations. The committee also empowered task force to add any other TORs after deliberations of the members of the task force with the approval of the committee.

The members of task force included leading lawyer of the country Babar Sattar, Barrister Salman Afridi, Rizwan Ejaz, Nawazish Peerzada, Faisal Siddiqi, Ayub Baloch, Yasmeen Aftab Ali and Aafia Salam. One member would be included later.

The committee also discussed recommendations on code of conduct of Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA). The acting director general of Pakistan National Council of Arts also gave a presentation on Pakistan Culture and Arts Foundation Relief Fund to the members of committee. The committee was satisfied with the presentation and briefing of the acting DG and directed secretary information to appoint a permanent DG of the council. The secretary assured the committee to appoint a permanent DG by the first of July.

The standing committee on information, broadcasting and heritage also reviewed the subcommittee on right to information’s recommendations on right to information bill. The members appreciated the work done by subcommittee and decided that its notes would be included in final report. The committee also proposed 14 amendments/recommendation to be included in government bill to make it a better law.

The committee decided to review the report of subcommittee headed by MNA Arifa Khalid Pervaiz regarding recommendations on code of conduct of PEMRA and further information on the authority in the next committee meeting.

The Nation

Advocate Farah Nawaz Gul had filed a petition in the court of Additional District Sessions Judge Shahid Bashir through Advocate Muhammad Asim Sheikh.The petition held that the Qawwali with reference to the Holy Prophet’s companions and Ahle Bait aired in ARY channel’s programme ‘Good Morning Pakistan’ provoked the sentiments of Muslims.

An application was given in the respective police station for lodging an FIR but the case was not registered. In the writ petition, a request has been made to register a case against the ARY channel’s CE Salman Iqbal, Nida Yasir, Amjad Sabri Qawwal and Naeem Abbas Rufi under Sections 295 (A), 295 (C), 298 and 298 (A). The court has ordered the police to register a case after hearing of the writ petition.

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Addressing the media at the GCU, Lahore, and then talking to the journalists, he said the journalists reporting of the masses’ problems and irregularities in the government departments creates awareness in the people. Abbasi said good governments take such times as a means of reformation, instead of getting flared up.

He said the PPC had participated in the protests against attacks on Hamid Mir and then on the Jang group’s vehicles. He said if every institution abides by the code of conduct, the problems get solved automatically.

Shafqat said due to non-implementation of Wage Board Award, journalists are victim to sense of deprivation. He said the journalist organizations should resolve their petty issues by themselves, keeping outsiders away. He said the journalists must speak straightforward and confirm any news items before publishing or broadcasting it.

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Petitioner Shafqatullah Sohail also urged the court to define a code of conduct for media in such a way that no one should defame defence institutions.

He pleaded before the court to play its role in the interest of justice, preservation of fundamental rights and democracy.

The petitioner requested the court to summon, among others, the Independent Media Corporation (Pvt), which owns Geo TV Network, Geo chairman Mir Shakeelur Rehman, Hamid Mir, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Information Minister Pervez Rashid.

He said the attempt on Hamid Mir’s life deserved condemnation, but more shocking was malicious anti-state tirade against the ISI that continued unabated for eight hours and the manner in which the ISI chief was maligned without evidence.

The attempt was detrimental to the interest of the institution and the country, the petition said.

DAWN

In its complaint to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the ISI accused Geo’s parent company, the Independent Media Corporation, of conducting a “false and scandalous campaign undermining the integrity and tarnishing the image of state institution (ISI) and its officers.”

The media regulator has the authority to shut down broadcasters based on such complaints, and has done so under previous administrations in Pakistan.

“We call on the Pemra not to act on this spurious complaint, and we call on Pakistan’s security services to recognise the critical role of the media and exercise tolerance and maturity,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator. “The ISI is free to rebut allegations in the media but should not try to censor coverage.”

Tension between Pakistan’s military and intelligence communities and much of the media swiftly escalated following an assassination attempt on Geo TV anchor Hamid Mir on April 19. Mir was hit with six rounds from assailants on motorcycles as his car was travelling between Karachi’s airport and the centre of the city. Mir was severely wounded and is recovering in the hospital. Geo TV has broadcast accusations that the ISI was involved in the murder attempt.

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