Marriyum likens govt to Goebbels

ISLAMABAD: PMLN Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the PTI government is a replica of Hitler’s Information Minister Joseph Goebbels as Imran Khan and his government is busy building castles of lies in the air while persecuting the opposition with an iron fist.

Speaking during a debate in the National Assembly on budget cuts on Monday, she said not a single rupee should be given to the ministry for lying, accusation, abuse and then backtracking. Should the Ministry of Information be paid for abusing the opposition, lying and making accusations? she questioned.

The ideological basis of the PTI comes from Goebbels. She pointed out that journalists are being killed on the streets, their voices were silenced and they are being punished through financial turmoil while their families live in misery and now the expression is being gagged further by the Media Development Regulatory Authority. Instead of announcing the Media Development Authority, immediate legislation should be enacted for the protection and security of journalists, she demanded.

The former Information minister said there is no need for the black law on media development. She said instead there is an urgent need for a law on protection and security of journalists and media. She said the film and culture policy has been completely abolished. How does this government intend to improve the image of the country? There is nothing in the budget for the welfare of artists, she lambasted.

Marriyum demanded that investigative reports of attacks on journalists Matiullah Jan, Absar Alam and Asad Toor should be made public. Why aren’t investigative reports on such incidents coming out as quickly as references they seek to politically victimise the opposition, especially the PMLN, she asked.