KARACHI: A meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of media organisations was held on Friday.

All representative media organisations — namely the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors — reiterated their stance of rejecting the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) vehemently.

They termed the concept as unconstitutional and a move to muzzle the freedom of press and expression by imposing state control to regulate all media platforms under one central body.

The JAC expressed full support for the PFUJ’s demonstration on Sept 13 in front of the Parliament House against the establishment of the PMDA. The statement said that bar associations, political parties, human rights bodies and other civil society groups will participate in the sit-in in addition to the media representative organisations.

All media associations in the JAC reiterated their commitment to thwart the government’s efforts to legislate for the establishment of the PMDA.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2021