‘Ministers criticised Pemra’s order like they were in opp,’ complains Firdous to PM Imran

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has complained to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan that ministers criticised Pemra’s [Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] order like they were in the opposition.

During the federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday headed by PM Imran, the minister said that it is humiliating if the government’s own ministers criticise the orders themselves.

On Firdous’s complaint the Federal Minister for Science and Technology said that, “humiliation happens when the government issues an order and takes it back within a few hours”.

Fawad Ch also said that, “Decisions are made without anyone having knowledge of it”, adding that you should take everyone into confidence before passing such orders.

Pemra on Monday had barred television anchors from giving their “opinions” during talk shows and limited their role to “moderator”.

The authority after receiving massive criticism later backtracked on its decision and issued a statement clarifiying that there is no ban on TV anchors from appearing on talk shows. Pemra said it didn’t mean to restrict freedom of expression as ‘being projected by few’.