News channels closed for sake of national interest:Marriyum

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has condemned off-airing news channels on November 25, said it was painful act but it was imperative in view of sensitivity of the situation on that particular day.
The minister while briefing the Standing Committee on Information, on the issue said that laws of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) also did not permit live coverage in that circumstances. However, she said the standing committee could be briefed in-camera on the issue with all facts and figures. The minister said the news channels were closed for the sake of national interests and there were no other motives behind order issued by Pemra. “We have issued advisory to all the news channels but unfortunately, they did not pay any heed to our requests,” she said.
The Committee which met with Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla in the chair discussed the matter regarding ‘off airing’ of transmission of news channels by Pemra during operation seeking briefing from the minister of State for Information. The committee members expressed their displeasure over blockade of television news channels on cable networks on November 25.
Some of the members condemned the decision of the government to what they called gagging of the media, but others opined that the decision was taken in larger national interest.
The members belonging to the opposition parties criticised the federal government for imposing closure of news channels, saying the act was against freedom of media and such actions did not suit to democratic government. Pir Aslam Bodla appreciated the briefing given by minister of State, saying that media freedom was necessary but the other viewpoint should also taken into account.
Waseem Akhtar Sheikh said that it was pertinent decision in national interest as otherwise there was fear of spread of violence in other parts of the country. The members of the committee asked the government to appoint a full-time managing director of the PTV as affairs of the national broadcaster were being affected due to his absence.
Members of the National Assembly including Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Muhammad Khan Daha, Waseem Akhtar Sheikh, Ms. Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Ms. Zeb Jaffar, Ch. Muhammad Tufail, Syed Amir Ali Jamote, Ms. Belum Husnain, Murad Saeed, Dr. Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Ms. Saman Sultana Jaffri, Ms. Naeema Kishwar Khan and Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar attended the meeting.