KARACHI: A joint committee of media organisations in the country has unanimously rejected the government’s attempt to establish the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA).

The committee comprises the Council of Pakistan News­paper Editors (CPNE), All Pakistan Newspapers Socie­­ty, Pakistan Broadcasters Association, Pakistan Fed­eral Union of Journalists and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors.

In a statement issued by the CPNE on Monday, the joint committee said that the recently circulated minutes of a meeting held between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the media organisations are misleading and have been purposefully distorted to give an impression that there was no serious objection to the PMDA.

The representatives of media organisations were unanimous in rejecting the PMDA draft. The ministry is continuously trying to give the impression that sections of the media fraternity are supporting the ministry on this draconian attempt to muzzle the press. This should be stopped immediately, the statement said.

The joint committee is planning to invite all human rights groups, lawyers and other sections of civil society to join hands in stopping the outrageous move by the government to put further curbs on the media.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2021