Restrictions on media
ISLAMABAD – With the imposition of emergency in the country, newspapers were barred from printing material aimed at ridiculing and defaming the head of state, members of Armed Forces or executive, judicial or legislative organs of the state and the declaration of the newspaper or any other publication could be suspended up to 30 days for violating the ordinance.
According to the amendments instituted in the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, the newspapers and other printing houses could not print photographs of suicide bombers, terrorists (except required by law enforcement agencies for investigation purpose), bodies of victims of terrorist activities, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and any other thing which could promote, aid or abet terrorist activities in the state.
The material against the ideology of the state or harming the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan could not be published as well. Similarly, the material and photographs that could likely incite violence or hatred or create inter-faith disorder could not be published.
The material in conflict with the commonly accepted standards of morality and decency and which promotes vulgarity, obscenity and pornography could also be barred from publication.
District Coordination Officer has been empowered to suspend the declaration of the newspaper or any other publication for up to 30 days for violation of these amendments.
Meanwhile, imposition of Emergency in the country led to number of restrictions on the private media channels as they all were barred from telecasting video footages of suicide bombers and pronouncements of terrorists or material which could promote, aid or abet the terrorist activities in the country.
According to the amendments made in the Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Ordinance 2002, private TV channels were also restricted from telecasting anything aimed at defaming President, Armed Forces, executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state, and also barred the anchor persons to propagate any acts in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or sovereignty, integrity or security of the state.
The violation of these amendments could be liable up to three years imprisonment or fine up to Rs 10 million or both to the media channel owner and the distribution service licensee or its representative up to one years imprisonment or fine up to Rs 5 million or both for committing these violations.
The electronic media channels were also barred from telecasting programmes carrying material against the solidarity of the state or inciting violence or hatred or any action prejudicial to maintenance of law and order.
Following is text of the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books
Registration Ordinance, 2002:
Ordinance No. LXIV of 2007
AN ORDINANCE
to amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books
Registration Ordinance, 2002
Whereas it is expedient to amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books registration Ordinance, 2002, (XCVIII of 2002), for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
And Whereas the National Assembly is not in session and the circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action;
Now, Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (I) of Article 89 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance;-
1. Short title and commencement. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
2. General amendment, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002. In the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002 (XCVIII of 2002), hereinafter referred to as the said Ordinance, after the words “District Coordination Officer”, wherever occurring, the words and commas “or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner” shall be inserted.
3. Insertion of new section 5A, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002.
In the said Ordinance, after section 5, the following new section shall be inserted, namely:-
“5A. Restriction on publication of certain material. (1) No printer, publisher or editor shall print or publish in any book, periodical or paper any material which consists of,-
(a) photographs or pictures of suicide bombers, terrorists (except as required by law enforcing agencies for purposes of investigation), bodies of victims of terrorist activities, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and any other thing which may, in any way, promote, aid or abet terrorist activities or terrorism:
(b) graphic or printed representation or projection of statements, comments, observations or pronouncement based on sectarianism, ethnicism or racialism;
(c) any material, printed or graphic, that defames, brings into ridicule or disrepute the Head of State, or members of the Armed Forces or executive, judicial or legislative organs of the State.
(d) any material that is likgly jeopardize or be prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or t he sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan;
(e) any material, photographic or in print, that is likely to incite violence or hatred or create inter-faith disorder or be prejudicial to maintenance of law and order; and
(f) any material that is in conflict with the commonly accepted standards of morality and decency and which promotes vulgarity, obscenity, and pornography.”
4. Amendment of section 19, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002. In t he said ordinance, in section 19, after sub-section (2), for the full stop, at the end, a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:-
“Provided that in a situation of emergency, pending action under this section, the District Coordination Officer, or as the case may be, the Deputy Commissioner, may suspend the declaration for a period not exceeding thirty days, as deemed appropriate in the circumstances.”
5. Amendment of section 44, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002. In the said Ordinance, in section 44, for the word “Government” the words “Federal Government in consultation with the Provincial Governments” shall be substituted.
Source: The Nation
Date:11/4/2007
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