PAKISTAN’S STRINGENT NEW MEDIA LAW STIRS CONTROVERSY

Pakistan is trying to bulldoze through a new press law intended to consolidate government oversight of the media, raising concerns about further degradation of press freedom in the country, reported Nikkei Asia. Pakistan’s media organisations representing journalists, broadcasters, editors and news directors have already rejected the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) ordinance, describing it as an ‘unconstitutional and draconian law’. The media groups have described the concept as an unconstitutional and draconian law against freedom of press and expression and a step towards imposing state control to regulate all segments of media. They have also sought to form a joint committee in a bid to seek further support from political parties, bar associations, rights organisations and other segments of the civil society to oppose the proposed “attack on media”.

The ordinance also proposes to repeal all current mediarelated laws in the country and wants them to be merged under the PMDA. According to the World Press Freedom Index report, Pakistan’s ranking has dropped since PM Imran Khan came into office from 139 in 2018 to 145 in 2021. Journalists and the media are priority targets of Pakistan’s military and inter-intelligence services to subjugate freedom of speech, EU Chronicle had reported in Oct 2020, adding that such actions of intolerance towards independent journalism have increased dramatically since July 2018 when Imran Khan became prime minister.