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ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over the ‘PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023’, saying it strays into censorship territory.
In a statement, the commission stated that the proposed amendment has assigned the regulator the role of disseminating what it terms ‘authentic’ news in a bid to curb disinformation.
“While any responsible journalist is honour-bound to eschew false information intended to deliberately create harm, we are concerned that the given definition of ‘disinformation’ in this bill strays into censorship territory and may allow powerful groups or individuals to stonewall journalists seeking both sides of a story,” it said.
The HRCP further added that this violates Article 19 of the Constitution protecting freedom of expression.
“While the bill takes an important step in protecting electronic media workers’ salaries — a longstanding demand of media trade unions and rights activists — it should be reviewed to ensure that media practitioners’ salaries are paid within 30 rather than 60 days, in keeping with labour laws.”
HRCP is concerned that the proposed PEMRA Amendment Act 2022 has assigned the regulator the role of disseminating what it terms ‘authentic’ news in a bid to curb disinformation. pic.twitter.com/Abyhs2hKFA
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) July 21, 2023
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting has unanimously approved the PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023.
Briefing the committee, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the definition of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation had also been included in the bill. Disinformation and misinformation were interpreted separately.
She said under the new bill, the fine for deliberately spreading false news had been increased from Rs1 million to Rs10 million. In the past, the channels used to plead that the fake news they aired was filed by journalists in their personal capacity, but now the channels would also be made accountable.
Under the new bill, a three-member committee would now have the powers to close down a channel instead of the PEMRA chairman.
