CMD welcomes repeal of PEMRA laws, calls for measures to provide protection to journalists
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) Pakistan has welcomed the repeal of PEMRA laws by the coalition government, saying that more positive steps are needed to free the media from all sorts of curbs.
This was expressed at a meeting of the CMD Board of Directors which was held here on Thursday. The meeting welcomed the PEMRA Amendment Bill 2008, saying that “this was the first step towards making the media free from all curbs”. The meeting however hoped that more steps would be taken to ensure that all media gags are withdrawn and the government takes practical steps to assist the media in dissemination of credible information to the public.
“There is a dire need for the government to adopt a total free-media policy so as the media outfits could exercise their right of expression and right to report without any pressure or oppression,” said the CMD spokesperson in a press statement.
“These developments should come soon as Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, in his first policy statement given on the floor of National Assembly after receiving unanimous vote of confidence on March 29, had expressed the resolve of the new government to dismantle restrictions and curbs placed on the media and had announced the repeal of the amendments made in the PEMRA Ordinance on November 3, 2007,” said the spokesperson. She further said as per the democratic norms, the government should be accessible to the media and no conscious effort should be made to control the media. The spokesperson expressed grave concern over the recent killings of two working journalists; one each at Hub, Balochistan, and interior Sindh.
“The CMD is concerned over the killing of the working journalists in Balochsitan and Sindh. As the democratic government has taken over, the CMD calls for instant measures to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crimes to justice. Moreover, steps should also be taken to provide protection to the working journalists,” added the spokesperson.
The spokesman added that the CMD meeting extended particular gratitude for the “determined efforts” extended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman for the media freedom.