The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) should be given autonomy without any government control, prominent journalist Nasir Zaidi said on Monday.

“In the past governments of PML-N and PTI, several laws were introduced to curtail the freedom of speech,” he told Munizae Jahangir on Spot Light.

Zaidi questioned the amendments as the new law would also interpret the fake news and disinformation issues.

Under the new law, the TV channels would be directed to mandatory prevent any kind of disinformation in accordance with the code of conduct.

For him, there was no need to introduce amendments to the Pemra Act but a need to give autonomy to the authority.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting approved on July 21 the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which also includes a definition of disinformation.

PPP’s Naz Baloch said that Pemra’s role has been limited in taking action on many matters.

“Pemra did not have the power to take suo moto. Pemra officials say that every time the authority takes a decision against somebody then take a stay order from the court,” she added.

Baloch was of the view that the authority should be autonomous.

“The minister [Marriyum Aurangzeb], during the committee meeting assured us of taking all stakeholders in confidence regarding the amendments,” she stated.

Legal expert Shoaib Shaheen said that the government should not have introduced the bill just two weeks before its tenure’s end.

“They should have floated the bill to the upcoming government and then hold dialogue with all the stakeholders,” he added.

Shaheen blasted the censorship on taking the name of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. “You cannot take the name of PTI chairman even if you are criticising him. Such is the state of media freedom in this government,” he stated.

He said that the PTI chairman will appear before the Election Commission tomorrow as the electoral authority ordered the Islamabad police to arrest Khan and present him before it on Tuesday (July 25).

“This warrant authorises and requires you to arrest the said Mr. Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and bring him before the Election Commission of Pakistan on 25th day of July, 2023 at 10:00am,” said the warrant addressed to Islamabad’s inspector general of police on Monday.

Shaheen said that the arrest warrants were issued for producing Khan before the ECP and he will appear before it.

While the PTI and journalist community have raised concerns over the introduction of the amendments in the Pemra Act, calling it an attempt to suffocate media freedom, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb defended the introduction of the bill, by saying that the government has curtailed the powers of the Pemra chairman and that the authority would not be used to silence opponents.

“We have curtailed the Pemra chairman’s powers, which will benefit Imran Khan the most. Now media can take Khan’s name and air his statement,” she told Hamid Mir on Geo TV.