Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his disapproval to certain federal ministers and senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for their statements against the recent move by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) that placed a ban on television anchors from appearing as ‘experts’ in their own talk shows and those of other channels.
During a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister expressed his resentment over remarks made by Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and Asad Umar against PEMRA’s decision. The prime minister warned these ministers about making criticism against government decisions ‘openly’.
A news report in Dawn cited an official as saying that Imran Khan had asked the government ministers to not discuss such matters so openly.
Fawad Chaudhry had responded to the prime minister that the media regulation body had taken the decision in an inappropriate manner which had invited criticism against the ruling government.
The recent move by PEMRA had received criticism from both the citizenry and government officials.
In a tweet, Asad Umar had stated that PEMRA would be doing a better job if it took action against fake news and should not suppress the right of individuals from expressing their opinion.
https://twitter.com/Asad_Umar/status/1188706797013622785?s=20
Moreover, in a criticism of the regulatory body’s order, Shireen Mazari had asked who an ‘expert’ was. She pointed out that she did not possess a degree in human rights and asked whether she should appear on talk shows and talk about human rights.
https://twitter.com/ShireenMazari1/status/1188673281848696832?s=20
Fawad Chaudhry had called the order uncalled for, illogical and unnecessary.
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1188676555133931521?s=20
Just yesterday, a Pakistan People’s Party legislator in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly had stated that the PTI government was worse than dictators when it came to media freedom.