Defamation laws governing electronic media frail, confesses Pervaiz Rashid
Islamabad, Pakistan: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid confesses that Defamation laws governing electronic media are frail and needs review from Parliament.
Responding to a question regarding practice of leveling unfounded, baseless allegations by a section of electronic media against any individual including politicians, Senator Pervaiz Rashid confessed laws dealing with the issue of defamation were inappropriate but said that government was conscious and careful to introduce news laws because it did not wish to send as signal that government was trying to cap media. He added that Parliament should review existing laws to ensure controlling the practice of leveling baseless allegations against any individual by electronic media.
He said that PEMRA that is the regulatory authority for electronic media could work within the given laws and paramtres to discourage trend of leveling baseless allegations against anybody but existing laws were not enough to deal with this serious and important issue.
Responding to another question, he said that ideological Zarb-e-Azb has been launched to fight the extremist mindset after successful phase of Zarb-e-Azb—a military operation against terrorism.
He was of the view that nation must stand against extremist thoughts and media would play a pivotal role to spread the message of peace and brotherhood. He believed that terrorism was the name of a mindset that wished to impose its extreme thoughts through use of power onto society. He said that terrorism was byword of stagnation of thoughts. He added that government would use all resources to fight extremist tendencies and promote tolerance and Syllabus will be improved for this purpose.
Lauding the role of Pakistan Army in operation against terrorists, he said that Army gave sacrifices to provide a better and secure Pakistan to people of the country.
