Surge in news censorship condemned as backward step

Reporters Without Borders said it was extremely concerned about two rulings clamping down on electronic media that represent a very serious backward step. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has ordered some radio stations not to broadcast BBC Urdu-language news programmes, while Parliament is preparing to ratify drastic censorship dating from the era of General Pervez Musharraf. “We thought that Pakistan had rid itself of the censorship impulse, but PEMRA and the political parties are once again making decisions that go against the interests of the Pakistani people”, the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “The country is going through a very difficult period, but that cannot be an argument for backing or writing into law a system of censorship that would block media development for years. Two years to the day since Pervez Musharraf signed the “black laws” against the press, it would appalling if a democratically-elected parliament were once again to impose censorship”, Reporters Without Borders said. “We urge members of parliament to make themselves defenders of media freedom, which has been so vital for the restoration of democracy in the country”, said secretary general, Jean-François Julliard. The parliamentary information committee chaired by an MP from the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on 29 October, decided that legal provisions on electronic media set out in November 2007, should be incorporated into the law under PEMRA control. These articles ban TV stations from broadcasting footage that could “disturb the public order” including statements from extremist groups, or those ridiculing or defaming the head of state, the armed forces or the judicial system. Programme presenters are targeted in clause 6 that bans them from putting out any news "prejudicial to Pakistan’s ideology” and state sovereignty. These draconian provisions were revoked by the former information minister, Sherry Rehman, after the PPP was returned to power. Political commentators told Reporters Without Borders that this decision, which had been supported by some opposition parties, was linked to growing criticism of government management of public affairs. The committee also planned to set up councils in the four provinces and the federal capital to accept complaints from citizens about media content. Reporters Without Borders also called on PEMRA to allow the BBC in Urdu to be broadcast on all privately owned stations wishing to do so. For several days, about half of all BBC Urdu language programmes have been blocked in Pakistan. PEMRA slapped the ban on using the programmes, which they have broadcast for one year, on Ham, Mast103, Apna, Ninety-One, Okara Highway and Gujrat FM. Only those radio stations that have obtained official permission from PEMRA are continuing to broadcast them. The federal information ministry has reportedly assured the BBC that it would intervene with PEMRA so the broadcasts can resume. Lastly, Reporters Without Borders has called on the federal authorities to act on behalf of the newspaper Asaap, published in Quetta, Baluchistan, which has been closed since August 2009 after it was forced to stop publishing by soldiers from the paramilitary Frontier Corps (see previous release). “A respected newspaper has been shut down by force for two months, without any reaction from the government in Islamabad. It makes one question what influence the civil authorities really have on the situation in Baluchistan”, the organisation said.