Freedom of the press

HYDERABAD: The Sindh government has sparked an outcry among literary figures, scholars and journalists with its new proposed law. The law revolves around strict monitoring of content published in books, newspapers and weeklies. the Sindh Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Act, 2017, as it is named might prove useful for the government to track down any content published against the common cultural or religious values or is in contradiction to national interests.

Previously, such incidents, by mistake or intent, have been a common occurrence. With the law demanding the details of the editor and the publisher, the aforementioned issue can be controlled. However, the bill is a blow to the freedom of expression particularly in case of newspapers and weeklies. Journalists or analysts shall be questioned or rather not entirely allowed to criticise the government through their writings.

In the past, the dictatorial governments used their repressive tactics on the press and the media, hence if the proposed bill is not amended to ensure the independent functioning of the press and the media, it will turn out to be another draconian law and a repressive state apparatus against free institutions.

Taha Aqeel

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2017.

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