He was talking to the Acting Chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Pervez Rathore, in a meeting here. DG Licensing, head of legal and GM operations Pemra were also present in the meeting.

The minister asked Pemra’s acting chairman to ensure smooth transmission of every channel to its prior and original position.It’s the right of the people to watch what they wish to watch through their remote control device, he added.

He said the government believed in the freedom of expression as it was a pre-requisite of every democratic society. He asserted that the government would ensure independence of the media and said neither Pemra nor cable operators had any authority to deprive the people of their fundamental right of watching a channel they liked.

Pemra’s acting chairman assured the minister he would ensure smooth transmission of every channel on its original position and take stern action against those cable operators who were violating the Pemra law.

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The session was organised on the topic of ‘The Image of the Journalist in Pakistan and the world’ by the US Consulate General for the students of the Institute of Communication and Media Studies, Ziauddin University, said a press release issued by the university.

Speaking at the event, US journalists Linda Roth and Terry Anzur said every journalist should have the curiosity to fulfil his or her responsibilities in all circumstances.

They said it was a lot more difficult for journalists in Pakistan to fulfil their responsibilities and it became all the more important for them to remain cautious while discharging their duties.

Terry Anzur is a journalism trainer with experience of about 30 years in the field of multimedia journalism, while Linda Roth has worked in CNN as a news producer and international news correspondent.

While highlighting the basic foundations of journalism, the journalists stated that the prosperity of democracy was not possible without free media.

They were firm in their stance to support the free press and media and told the students that before reaching any conclusion, it was crucial to substantiate any piece of news from its source as that formed the very basis of true journalism.

They thought that it was crucial for a journalist to ensure the authenticity and respect the ethics of the news that was delivered to the public.

Both journalists shared their insight on the evolution of broadcast media in the United States. Their backgrounds and work experience in the field of journalism allowed them to provide a unique insight and kept the students of ICMS engaged. They also shared experiences from their professional lives with the students.

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