June 06, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 20, 1428

PESHAWAR, June 5: Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Tuesday condemned promulgation of the Pemra (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 by Gen Pervez Musharraf, and termed the move a reflection of the “growing degeneration of military dictatorship into a totalitarian system.”

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Mr Asfandyar pledged that his party, alongside other democratic forces, would firmly resist curbs imposed on the media, adding that the Musharraf’s days in power had been numbered. That was why the government was resorting to draconian measures.

Mr Khan said the ordinance had exposed the tall claims made by the government about “free media in the country”.

The ANP president held out an assurance to the community of journalists that his party firmly stood behind them in their struggle for freedom of the press since the gagging of the media would not affect all the sections of society.

If the move was not challenged by all democratic forces, it would lead to total disempowerment of the people, changing their status from citizens into subjects, declared the ANP leader.

He was confident that with the growing strength and unity of civil society forces, triggered by the movement of lawyers for independence of the judiciary, the government’s move would ultimately be foiled.