Maryam Aurangzeb slams govt over press freedom
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 13 September 2021
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Maryam Aurangzeb condemned the PTI-led government's actions against journalists protesting the PMDA. She emphasized the need for press freedom and proper rights for journalists.Summary
LAHORE - Former Minister of Information and PML-N Information Secretary Maryam Aurangzeb has slammed the PTI-led government for its “draconian and autocratic measures” to deny Pakistani journalists their constitutional right to peaceful protest against the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA).
In a series of tweets with hashtag #PMDA_Rejected, she said, “Fascist [PM] Imran Khan had abused the state machinery to block democratic and peaceful protest by journalists from across the country against the PMDA black law.”
She said the journalist fraternity had stood up for the sanctity of their journalistic values and right to freedom of expression and press as granted to them by the constitution.
The PML-N leader reminded that PTI staged a 120-day sit-in against the elected premier at D-Chowk. “It attacked, battered and wounded policemen, hung dirty laundry on the Supreme Court building, cursed parliament, attacked PM House, gave a call for civil disobedience, and asked people to reject formal banking channels and conduct financial transactions through hundi to sabotage national economy”.
She said the PML-N government allowed the PTI to practice their constitutional rights within the law.
“However, the same PTI did not dare to even allow journalists their right to protest peacefully and deployed scores of security personnel and put up barricades to prevent protest against the tyrannical media development authority law that seeks to gag news media and silence the truth,” she tweeted.
Photo courtesy: irshadgul.com
KEY POINTS:
- Maryam Aurangzeb criticizes the government's autocratic measures against journalists.
- She highlights the constitutional right to protest for press freedom.
- The PTI government faced backlash for not allowing peaceful protests against PMDA.
- Aurangzeb recalls the PTI's past protests against the elected government.
- The PML-N leader calls for accountability regarding press freedom violations.
