July 11, 2021
2 mins read

Imran urged to amend proposed legislation targeting scribes

Last month, the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Privileges (Amendment) Act, 2021…reports Asian Lite News

Raising concern about the new law that threatens press freedom in Pakistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has asked Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar and Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi to amend the proposed legislation.

Last month, the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Privileges (Amendment) Act, 2021, a bill that empowers the speaker to form a judicial committee with the ability to penalize journalists over their coverage of the legislative body, according to news reports.

If enacted, that judicial committee would have the power to conduct summary trials and sentence journalists to up to six months in jail and fine them up to 10,000 rupees (USD 63) on the basis of a complaint by any assembly member, CPJ said citing local media reports.

“The Punjab Provincial Assembly’s move to authorize summary trials and sentencing for journalists amounts to a direct assault on press freedom in Pakistan and a threat to any journalist covering the assembly,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C. “Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar must reject the Punjab Privileges (Amendment) Act unless all provisions threatening freedom of expression are removed.”

CPJ was not able to obtain the text of the bill, which has not been published on the provincial assembly’s website.

The bill empowers the assembly’s sergeant-at-arms to arrest journalists within the assembly without a warrant on the order of the speaker, and includes three-month prison terms for “publishing any false or perverted report of any debate or proceedings,” “misrepresenting any speech made by a member before the Assembly,” or “making or publishing any maliciously false, scandalous, defamatory, or derogatory statement concerning any Member,” according to those reports.

Journalists could be sentenced to six months in prison and a fine if convicted of “using criminal force to obstruct, assault, threaten, or insult” any assembly member or officer.

Defendants in those cases would be able to appeal their verdicts, but only to the speaker of the assembly, according to media reports.

Responding to journalist protests against the proposed bill, Sarwar earlier this month announced that he would work with Elahi to revoke all of its press-related provisions, according to The Nation. On July 5, Elahi announced a number of revisions to the bill, according to news reports.

However, in a joint statement published that day, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Lahore-based Joint Action Committee, a coalition of civil society groups, rejected those revisions and demanded that Section 21 of the bill be totally abolished, as it empowers the speaker to reintroduce the revised and omitted clauses at any time. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Pakistan looks for alternate pipeline instead of PSGP

Previous Story

India Deepening Ties With Georgia Amid Growing Chinese Influence

Next Story

Air travel banned for unvaccinated people in Pakistan

Latest from -Top News

Ramaphosa gains from US showdown

South African President’s conduct with Trump reminded South Africans of his diplomatic pedigree, and of his importance to the country’s rules-based order South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation went to

Armed gangs kill dozens in Nigeria

A local state governor said “scores” of people had been killed in the attacks, which also saw homes and properties destroyed. Northeast Nigeria has been gripped by a deadly wave of violence

Children die as USAID aid cuts snap a lifeline

Trump administration cut more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall assistance around the world. Programs serving children were hit hard Under the dappled light of a
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Pak Army clears COAS extension rumours

There were rumours that General Bajwa will be given a

‘Pakistan on the brink of complete breakdown’

The ability to challenge or think comes with education, and