Pakistan's government will crack down even harder on private press, monitoring 21 national Urdu and English language newspapers, according to a national paper, the Daily Times

This move is to ensure implementation of the newly proclaimed Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007.

“Special officers have been asked to scan news, editorials, and readers' letters containing material against President (Pervez) Musharraf and the armed forces,” an Information Ministry official told the Daily Times. He added that provincial information departments were also directed to monitor the papers.

A list of 13 Urdu and eight English newspapers to be monitored has been announced by the Press Information Department (PID).

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