Govt was forced to impose media restrictions during Faizabad operation: Ahsan Iqbal

Video: Geo News ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday said that the ruling party was forced to impose a restriction on the media during the operation against protesters of a religious party. "No one is a bigger champion of freedom of expression than Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N)," Iqbal said. "The unfortunate step of blocking channels was according to PEMRA?s code of conduct which forbids live coverage of security operations." Responding to a question, Iqbal said that the government had also called a meeting with the Pakistan Broadcasting Association the very next day [after media restrictions were imposed], but due to traffic blockages in Karachi, most members could not attend the session. Discussing the energy problems of the country, the interior minister claimed that out of the 10,000MW of electricity that the PML-N had promised, 7,000MW has been energized. "This is a 42 percent increase from what was being generated in 2013 when we came to power." "In accordance with CPEC, Rs27 billion worth of projects have been energized," he said. "This is the future towards which we are taking Pakistan." Addressing the recent controversy of the changed contents of a form regarding belief in Khatm-e-Naboowat (finality of Prophethood) ? required to be signed by public office holders and election candidates ? drew a backlash from the opposition benches and religious parties, Iqbal claimed that Imran?s party was part of the committee that drafted the elections bill. ?Imran was a member of the 34-member committee which drafted the law and four members of his party were part of it too,? said Iqbal.