Musharraf's clampdown sends media into 'new age of darkness'
By Leah McBride Mensching, Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22:43 :: Press Freedom & Laws :: #813 :: rss
As Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a so-called state of emergency, the country's media took a huge hit, as news coverage became increasingly restricted, penalties were increased and private television stations were shut down, AsiaMedia reported.
Pakistan's major newspapers condemned Musharraf's clampdown. The News stated in an editorial that “as the state of emergency, which in effect is a euphemism for martial law, was imposed on Saturday, Pakistan entered a new age of darkness.”
The newspaper Dawn accused Musharraf of moving to weaken the country's judicial system while remaining chief of the military, stating that “all the gains over the years have gone down the drain. All this talk about the forward thrust towards democracy ... turned out to be one great deception,” AsiaMedia reported.
The latest press restrictions imposed by Musharraf “bar the printing and broadcasting of material likely to defame government or military officials, to jeopardize the country's ideology, or to incite violence or hatred or prejudice that disrupts the maintenance of law and order. New ordinance section 5A prohibits any news reports on terrorism, unless law enforcement agencies allow, and section 20 of the 2002 PEMRA Ordinance was amended to put the same ban on television stations also,” according to AsiaMedia.
Should newspapers break an ordinance, they can be suspended for up to 30 days. Broadcast stations forfeit facilities and equipment if they break the rules, and the licensee of representative can be sent to jail for three years, find Rs 10 million or both.
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