MCIT- Rejects the News posted by Tolo TV about Digital Television Network
Ministry of Communications & IT (MCIT) rejected the news broadcasted by Tolo TV in a press conference on Wednesday November 5th 2014 and called it baseless.
Broadcasted news by Tolo television mentioned that MCIT has signed the contract of Digital Network without conducting bidding process and also the news says that the digital system will cause censor by the government.
Acting Minister of MCIT H. E. Amirzai Sangin denied the news saying that the bedding procedures and contract documents of digital Network are available.
H. E. Sangin stressed that it is the mission of media to publish the news obtained from the trusted source, they should not do anything that would undermine the public consciousness.
He said if the members of Parliament had any question they would have to share them with us and we were willing to give detailed information and meet the challenges they had. The representatives who had confirmed this news in their interview with Tolo is lack of their information in the field.
Then the deputy director of ATRA Khair Mohammad Faizi provided information to media about the contract bidding process, he said: based on Act No (33) dated 22.08.1391 of the council of Ministers launched three advisory meeting with TV representatives and gained their agreement. The companies were invited to bid for contract and we received four offers from Ariana TV, Asia Advisory Company, Lewal Company and Noorin TV. The offers were evaluated by the committee consisting of representatives of ATRA, Ministries of Economy, Commercial, Finance and Justice. As a result ACG (ABS) Company with appropriate offer was declared as a winner and ATRA issued license on 21st August 2013. He also highlighted that Digital system TV broadcasting was inaugurated by former vice president Karim Khalili on 31st August 2014.
After that deputy of Ministry of Information and Culture Mr Ghulam Nabi Farahi said: there is no any kind of censorship on the media, unless the action is unlawful. In all cases broadcasting media are obliged to observe and follow the law.
