The proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority bill would give the government the power to shut down media outlets and create tribunals to punish journalists and media houses that write critical articles against prominent military personnel, judges, and government officials, fear media leaders. The bill also proposes that the authority assess media workers’ wages and resolve wage disputes, which was kept secret until it was leaked to the media.
Special tribunals would be established under the authority, and its decisions could only be contested in Pakistan’s Supreme Court. For breaking the new regulations, the tribunals will have the authority to sentence content producers to up to three years in prison and fines of up to 25 million Pakistani rupees (€124,181) ($146,848). In Pakistan, designations like fake news and hate speech are frequently employed to repress criticism.
For weeks, cabinet officials and government spokespeople have been promoting the concept that the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), which will be established under the new law, will ensure prompt payment of media workers and combat the threat of false news.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib explained that the government had not developed any legal draught so far and neither was it going to pass any ordinance in connection with PMDA. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also objected to the special committee’s chairmanship.
The Pakistani Human Rights Commission has also expressed worries about the new law’s “draconian” regulatory framework, while other bars and legal organizations have expressed support for journalists who oppose it.
The government intends to consolidate various media regulatory authorities in Pakistan and broaden the scope of regulation for digital media under the proposed legislation, as well as form a new regulatory body known as the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA). Media advocates have slammed the government’s move, calling it just another attempt to stifle press freedom.
