'Martial law': Media can't speak out against army, government in Pakistan, new rules

- Under the new rules, the country will also need a license to operate newspapers and digital media, just like TV channels

New delhi date. Wednesday, June 02, 2021

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been battling the Koro epidemic, inflation and economic hardship, has found a way to escape media satire. Pakistan's Imran Khan government has proposed new rules to the media, which is being opposed across the country. Opposition forces, the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz called the new law a media martial law, saying it was a rule restricting freedom of expression.

The Imran government wants to implement the 'Pakistan Media Development Authority Ordinance-2021' which is being opposed across the country. Opposition parties have stated they will not run in the by-elections. According to PML-N spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb, this is an attempt to control the media. Through it, the government wants to make media outlets its mouthpiece or it will have to shut down.

Here is a proposal for a new law

The Imran government has proposed the merger of some of the old laws involving the media under the Pakistan Media Development Authority Ordinance-2021. The new law will regulate everything from print media, electronic media to digital media. The Imran government says that under the new law, an authority should be set up to regulate all types of media in the country. Under the new rules, the country will also need a license to operate newspapers and digital media, just like TV channels. The draft also calls for rules to be drawn up for Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube channels, video logs, etc.