No intention to block or coerce electronic media: Sherry Rehman

ISLAMABAD : Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman told the National Assembly on Thursday that the government has no intention to block or coerce the electronic media. Answering a question by Mian Abdul Sattar during the question hour, she said that a bill to withdraw and nullify the effects of the amendments made in the PEMRA Ordinance 2002,on November 3,2007 has been moved in the National Assembly.
Replying to a supplementary question she said, “I want to assure the House that the government has no intention of blocking or coercing the electronic media and coercive powers of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) have been removed.”
She said in the past the channels were either blocked through PEMRA or cable operators.”Now the private channels are running whatever they like to air, even PTV is airing criticism of the government”,she added.
Sherry Rehman said that some ten days back two channels were blocked in Karachi and after an inquiry it was admitted by the operators that they blocked the channels as they were forced to do so by some unknown persons.
She said the government needs cooperation of the cable operators and asked them to not to succumb to any pressure.The minister further said that now the government has provided hot lines to the Cable operators and they have been asked to call in case of any threat.