Gilani vows change in law on freedom to information; says Pemra to go under Information Ministry

Chaudhry Ahsan Premee

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday said his government believed in freedom of press and said the “black laws” of Nov 3 would be revoked. Addressing the parliament soon after a unanimous vote of confidence, Gilani said a law on freedom of information would be enacted so as to help check corruption from the society.
He said the proposals to be submitted by the Parliamentary Committee on the laws relating to freedom of information will be followed.
The Prime Minister terming the present laws as defective said these need to be changed and said a framework on the law on freedom of information has already been prepared and would be enacted by the new government.
Gilani said the journalists covering events in the conflict zones will be provided security equipment. He said journalists and workers of the newspaper industry would be protected and efforts would be made for a wageboard award.
He said the working conditions and laws regulating the media industry would also be improved.
“We will bring changes in the Pemra Ordinance and place it under the Ministry of Information instead of its current status as an authority.”
He hoped that it would improve the working environment of electronic media in the country.