ISLAMABAD – Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Friday that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) should take notice and initiate action against the dissemination of baseless and false news against ministers.
The observation came after dissemination of fake news regarding Finance Minister Asad Umar and State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi.
In a statement, the minister strongly condemned the creation of a negative situation by airing false news, saying PEMRA should investigate who initially spread the false news, why it was aired and whom it wanted to damage.
‘Asad Umar was a respectable individual of Tehreek-e-Insaf and the airing of a baseless news attributed to the Prime Minister was based on ill intention,’ said the minister.
Chaudhry said some elements were trying to create political and economic instability and under a specific agenda, a certain group of media was being used to defame the PTI government.
He said the false news of renovation of the house of State Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi was condemnable.
The character assassination of the minister active against land occupiers and land mafia was unfortunate, he noted.
The minister said PTI will not withdraw from its reform agenda by getting fearful of the media trial.
