Asad Umar stresses need for system to counter fake news
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Wednesday said that “fake news is spreading [in the country] on a day to day basis,” therefore, a system to keep a check on that is necessary.”
The minister was speaking in reference to the PTI-led government’s proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) during a ceremony to mark the International Day of Democracy.
“If the honour of a Pakistani citizen is at stake or if fake news is leading to disorder in society, then there should be a system to oversee it,” he said. “And this system should not be based on the likes and dislikes of Asad Umar or Fawad Chaudhry, but it should be an independent system.”
He added that the proposed authority will only investigate cases in line with the principles of “truth and justice”.
Umar also spoke about the concept of self-regulation and said that if all the regulators from the country are dismissed, the media itself will not be happy with the system.
“I hundred per cent agree that the government should sit with all media stakeholders and listen to their concerns so that a system to promote good journalism could be implemented.”
“A good journalist will always support a good law,” he said.
Speaking about democracy on behalf of his ministry, Umar said that democracy is strengthened when the public starts considering itself to be a part of the democratic system.
“Democracy is facing challenges throughout the world, therefore, if a country wants to strengthen its democratic values, then it will have to make its accountability mechanisms stronger,” he said.
Umar also said that while it is necessary, within a democratic system, to have a free judiciary, it “can never be above the law”.
He said even the judiciary will have to answer for the assets they own.
The minister said that keeping aside all personal interests, the government and the Opposition will have to unite to bring about constitutional amendments.
Source: Geo News
