Bill moved to ease media curbs
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Information Sherry Rehman on Friday tabled a parliamentary bill, PEMRA amendment bill, proposing an end to curbs on live broadcasts and punishments for journalists ranging from heavy fines to imprisonment and confiscation of equipment.
Talking to reporters outside the National Assembly Sherry Rehman said that the introduction of the PEMRA amendment Bill in the parliament is a historical day for media independence. With this amendment Bill all black laws against media would come to an end, she said. “The amendments will remove the entire apparatus of restrictions imposed on the press,” Rehman told reporters
She said that the mission of Benazir Bhutto would be bought to its logical end and media would be given full freedom and independence and all negative tactics for harassing media men would be bought to an end.
Sherry said that Musharraf’s regime had imposed “silence” on the media instead of improving its own performance, adding: “We will do no such thing.” “We will put our own house in order and we will allow the press to broadcast not just live telecast but all that they feel fit to broadcast,” she said. The minister added however that the media’s freedom “naturally places a heavy responsibility on the members of the press itself” and suggested forming a press council made up of members of the media.
She added that her suggestions for protection and relief to journalists have been forwarded to the PM. In response to a question she said that she would be holding meetings with Pakistan Broadcasting Association, cable operators and representatives of journalists organisations to remove any reservations they have. She said that the PEMRA amendment bill would be sent to parliamentary committee so that the opposition members can also express their viewpoint. The draconian laws that threatened coercive actions against the press would be removed via this bill to begin the process of providing for a free press in Pakistan.
This involves, as a first step, the withdrawal of the provisions of Ordinance XIII of 2002, inserted through Ordinance LXV of 2007 on 3rd November, 2007.
Here follows a resume of the contents of the Bill: In section 27, the owner of an offending broadcast station or Cable network was also made responsible, along with the operator. This is also being withdrawn. The amendment had increased the fine of Rs. one million to Rs. ten million for a licensee who contravenes the provisions of the PEMRA laws and has been given reasonable opportunity to show cause. The ten million fine is being reversed to one million again. Through the amendment, the Authority (PEMRA) was empowered to revoke the License on violations by the Licensee. This is also being withdraw.
3rd November amendment also empowered at Authority/Chairman PEMRA to seize the equipment or seal the premises of a Licensee; and also close down the network of a licensee in a situation of emergency. This is also being withdrawn. By adding sub-section (2) in section 31, the live coverage ofviolence and conflict was prohibited. This sub-section is also being withdrawn.
By amending section 33, a three-year imprisonment was added to ten million fine for the broadcast licensee of his representative who violates or abets violation of any PEMRA law. Similarly a cableTV operator, or his representative who commits such a wrong was to face one year imprisonment in addition to rupees five million fine. The imprisonment segment is being withdrawn. Offences under the PEMRA law were made cognizable and compoundable. This is also being withdrawn.