LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to approach other opposition parties to form a joint committee to stop the PTI government from establishing the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA).

The decision was taken by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif while chairing an important consultative meeting of his party over the PMDA.

The party decided that it would use all means and platforms to ensure that the bill is not passed for the establishment of the “draconian body that seeks to gag media freedoms”. He also shared with the PML-N his in depth consultation with the leaders of the media bodies. He said that all representative bodies of media had outrightly rejected the PMDA.

“None of the stakeholders were consulted over this so-called bill and no proposals or perspectives were sought. Representative bodies of the media were kept out of the entire decision making process,” said the opposition leader in the National Assembly. He added that this was because the government was not looking to legislate with a progressive mindset but is bent on the subjugation of Pakistani media.

“If this black law is passed then the right to freedom of expression in Pakistan will be completely wiped out. Which is why PML-N would do everything in its power and more to block the path of this unconstitutional body,” said Shehbaz.