Elahi tells PM Imran to beware of advisers misleading against media

• Elahi warns PM Imran Khan of his advisers "who are creating a gulf between him and media."
• Says forbidding members from participating in TV programmes "will deny PTI a balanced coverage of its policies."
• Says "targetting media outlets for their editorial policies is regrettable."

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker and PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to be cautious of his advisers "who are misleading him and creating a gulf between him and the media," The News reported.

Expressing deep concern over the PTI advising its members against participating in the programmes of certain TV channels, Elahi termed it "a decision that will deny the ruling party a balanced coverage of its policies and point of view."

“I urge upon the prime minister and PTI leadership to reconsider their decision,” he said, adding that the beauty of democracy lies in the plurality of views.

He also expressed concern over the federal government's decision to curtail its advertisements in some newspapers and TV channels ostensibly for their perceived opposition to amendments in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) through an ordinance.

“It is regrettable when media outlets are targeted for their editorial policies. Government advertising is a public trust and should not be used as a tool to target some news outlets while giving undue benefit to others.”

He said that he is unable to understand why media outlets are being targeted when PM Imran Khan has already tasked him to mediate with the media bodies on the government's behalf in order to resolve the thorny issue of PECA.