PFUJ calls for withdrawal of ban on anchors

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 October 2019

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has condemned the government's ban on anchors and called for its withdrawal. Their president, Afzal Butt, emphasized the need for media freedom without unnecessary restrictions.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Afzal Butt, President of his faction of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), met the Chairman PEMRA Muhammad Saleem and conveyed his concerns and anger of the journalist community over continued media gagging and censorship imposed by the government through the electronic media regulator.

He told him that PFUJ had taken notice of the latest attempt of curtailing media freedom and freedom of expression.

Butt informed the official that the media and journalist community reject the ban on anchors to appear in each other’s programs, and called for its immediate withdrawal.

The PFUJ president suggested that instead of banning credible and experienced journalists and anchors as participants and issuing unwanted advice through PEMRA, the government should focus on removing non-journalists, spreading unverified and unsolicited information.

Saleem tried to clarify during the meeting that PEMRA had not imposed ban on any anchor and that they were free to conduct shows on any topic. He said that the regulator had given some suggestions for doing programs on news and current affairs.

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ met with PEMRA Chairman Muhammad Saleem.
• Concerns were raised over ongoing media gagging.
• PFUJ rejected the ban on anchors appearing in shows.
• Government urged to focus on credible journalism instead of censorship.
• PEMRA clarified it had not imposed any direct bans on anchors.