Info minister announces PMDA to be disbanded

Marriyum Aurangzeb says there will be zero tolerance for unfounded criticism of institutions, journalists

Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday declared dissolution of the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) set up during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government’s tenure.

“An attempt was being made to gag an already muzzled media. But now, in whatever shape and form PMDA is working, we have announced to disband it,” the minister told journalists, hours after she took oath of office.

Aurangzeb said the coalition government would not allow anyone to impose restrictions on freedom of expression in the country while terming the PMDA as a “black law”.

She also touched upon the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Ordinance saying that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had termed it “unconstitutional” due to the efforts of journalists and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz as well.

“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,” Aurangzeb added.

The information minister went on to say that the Pakistani society experienced suffocation during the previous four years, in the form of abusive language, targeting of politicians, and black laws.