ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that government has always upheld right to free speech as sacred cause and fought against attempts to curtail this fight.

In her tweets, she said we are committed to this principle. However, she said enforcement of ethics of coverage involving acts of terrorism is a global code. It is part of national law, she added.

Information Minister said it is what we owe to people who are victims of terrorism, and it is what responsible journalism is. She said some concerns have been expressed regarding recent Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) order about coverage ethics of violent scenes involving acts of terrorism and their aftermath.

She said order prohibits broadcasting gory scenes, dead bodies, wreckage and live images from spot only to avoid spreading fear and panic among masses, which is always real aim and design of terrorists.

Information Minister said this boundary is set all over world and every responsible media body and organisation adheres to them across board without exception.

She said live coverage of terrorism incident spots amplifies terrorism impact and divulges sensitive post operation information to miscreants.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 13 2023

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