Senate chairman refers PEMRA Amendment Bill to relevant committee

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Friday sent a bill to amend the country’s media regulator to a committee for review, amid opposition from some lawmakers who said it would curb press freedom.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill, 2023, was presented by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in the upper house of parliament.

Aurangzeb said the bill was aimed at ensuring the rights and responsibilities of journalists and media outlets, and preventing the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

She said the bill had been drafted after 12 months of consultation with stakeholders, and included 12 amendments that would modify the definition and functions of PEMRA.

She asserted that the proposed law advocates against publishing a news story until someone’s guilt is proven.

The minister said the bill would also ensure timely payment of salaries to journalists, who were not receiving wages for up to two years.

Aurangzeb said that the bill links government advertisements to media houses and newspapers with their compliance with minimum wage and other obligations.

She said the bill would also give representation to the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), media workers, and working journalists in the authority.

Auangzeb said that there was no punishment in the proposed PEMRA amendment bill other than fines.

The minister said that earlier the PEMRA chairman had the authority to shut down TV channels and programmes with a single order.

However, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party opposed the bill, saying it would impose censorship and stifle dissent.

PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023 is the bill of Pakistan: Marriyum Aurangzeb

He said his party stood for freedom of expression and against any attempts to muzzle the media.

The minister said the bill would give PEMRA more powers to shut down TV channels and programmes without due process.

He urged the government to withdraw the bill and consult with the opposition parties and civil society before introducing any legislation on media regulation.