31 July 2004	Saturday	13 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, July 30: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto termed the defamation law introduced in the National Assembly draconian and said it would be used to curb freedom of the press.

In a press statement on Friday, Ms Bhutto said the "Musharraf's dictatorship" on Thursday introduced a bill to amend the defamation laws in an attempt to "chain the press and silence the voice of dissent."

The PPP chairperson assured the media that her party was committed to freedom of the press, recalling that the PPP government had given freedom to the press during 1988.

Recognizing the need for public figures to respond to malicious reporting, she said Islamabad should study the British Press Complaints Commission, where the complaints were examined and the press was called upon to report the contradictions and clarifications.

However, there was no jail term for mis reporting as freedom of the press entailed every citizen to freely express their views, she added.The PPP chairperson said the sweeping powers to "protect public figures" was aimed at covering up the wrong doings of the regime.

She said the bill had been introduced after questions were raised about alleged corrupt practices regarding the leading members of the "Musharraf dictatorship."