KARACHI, Sept 23: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, has welcomed the National Assembly decision to refer the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill to a mediation committee.

In a press release, the PFUJ appealed to the government not to pass the bill in haste as it did on May 17, when in the absence of the opposition it was passed by the assembly, but had now been referred to the mediation committee.

The PFUJ said the clauses which needed to be deleted from Pemra bill included Clause 27, section (a), which gives powers to the authority to prohibit any broadcast media or distributor service if it is of the opinion that a programme or advertisement is against the ideology of Pakistan or is likely to create hatred among people.

The PFUJ also has reservations on clauses 33, 33-A, 33-B, 34-A, which deal with punishment of up to three years for any broadcast media, service operator or person who violates or abets, and confiscation of the equipment. It has demanded that instead of people from the police service and bureaucracy, senior journalists and media professionals should be included in the 13-member Pemra committee to be appointed by the president.