Whirlwind legislation
June 7, 2021
The nation is witnessing one of the worst acts of violence and harassment against journalists.In the same week that a journalist is beaten up by unknown assailants in Islamabad, parliament sees introduction of a bill on protection of journalists tabled in the National Assembly by the minister for human rights. In the following week, news of a proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority Ordinance 2021 which media and rights groups have termed a ‘media martial law’, starts to circulate.
The timing is ironic and bizarre to say the least. While on the one hand, the government is taking legislative measures to give journalists their constitutional right of complete security to life and protection from censorship, threats and intimidation, on the other hand it is restricting their freedom of expression by institutionalising censorship through an ordinance.