Pakistan’s New Info Min Disbands Imran’s PMDA

Islamabad, April 19 : Pakistan’s newly elected Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday disbanded the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) that was set during Imran Khan’s tenure. She said, “An attempt was being made to gag an already muzzled media. But now, whatever shape and form PMDA is working in, we have announced to disband it. “So now, we will review this PECA law and take all stakeholders on board in this regard. We will also identify the gaps which are there and were used to muzzle the media.” Calling the PMDA as “black law”, the minister said that the coalition government will not allow imposition of curbs on freedom of speech and expression. The Islamabad High Court had also the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Ordinance “unconstitutional”, she pointed out. Slamming the Imran Khanled government, the information minister said that for the last four years, the Pakistani society experienced suffocation, may it be in the form of abusive language, targeting of politicians, black laws, or ordinances, Geo News reported. “I think we should now move towards a new beginning as a coalition government has been formed that represents entire Pakistan,” she added. Geo News quoted the Information Minister as saying that the government has gathered data on the bot Twitter accounts that were being operated to malign the institutions and run trends against them. She said, “This does not come under freedom of expression as these campaigns are being run through software. There is zero tolerance on such trends and campaigns. “There will be zero tolerance regarding this and we have instructed the inspector general of Islamabad to make sure that culprits are published.” The Minister emphasised that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government will not take revenge on its political opponents. Referring to President Arif Alvi’s refusal to administer oath to the federal cabinet, she said, “…if he cannot fulfil the oath he took while becoming president, then the best option for him is to resign.” In absence of Alvi, the oath was administered by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Tuesdaynfo, MinisterPak