Int’l organisations concerned over curbs on media
KARACM (PPI) – Twenty seven leading international freedom of expression organizations have expressed deep concern at the ‘draconian curbs’ imposed on the Pakistani media as part of the state of emergency declared on 3 November 2007.
They have expressed concern in a joint letter addressed to President General Pervez Musharraf on November 12 noting that the government of Pakistan has placed sweeping legal restrictions on media freedoms by amending laws relating to the electronic as well as the print media.
The letter notes that the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) itself, which has replaced the constitution of the country, specifically suspends Article 19 relating to freedom of the press.
The letter expressed concern that the government has introduced two separate ordinances imposing severe curbs on print and electronic media that give government officials the authority to take unilateral action against media organisations.
It notes that under the new amendments government officials can suspend publication of a newspaper for up to thirty days and have the authority to confiscate equipment of radio and television channels and to seal their premises for up to thirty days.
Owners and operators of radio and television channels who violate the amended electronic media laws can be punished by up to three years in jail and a fine of 10, million rupees (approx. US$164,000) or both. Cable operators found to be in violation of the ordinance can be punished by a jail term of one year and a fine of five million rupees (approx.US$82,000) or both.
The signatories to the letter note that immediately after the imposition of the state of emergency by government machinery acted aggressively to curb freedom of expression in the country, and notes that some of these actions include:
Indefinite suspension of broadcasts of international and national private television news channels. Cable operators have been directed to only distribute entertainment channels approved by the authorities.
Source: TheNation
Date:11/14/2007
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