Reports are emerging from Pakistan that President Pervez Musharraf has shutdown independent news media within Pakistan and limited access to the Internet. Musharraf appears to be using, at least in part, Pakistan's press licensing laws to effectuate this clampdown.
Pakistan has a well developed set of laws governing its print, broadcast, and electronic media. Not surprisingly, Musharraf is using these laws to lend an air of legitimacy to his actions. According to the Hindustan Times:
Musharraf promulgated two separate ordinances imposing curbs on the print and the electronic media. Under the ordinances that amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, 2002, the print and electronic media have been barred from printing and broadcasting "anything which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organ of the state."
The extent of Musharraf's curtailment of Internet access is unclear, however, with conflicting reports circulating today. The Associated Press reported that:
Authorities have blacked out TV networks and threatened broadcasters with jail time, but so far have spared the Internet and most newspapers. read more »
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