KARACHI, May 17: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has termed the amendments in the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) bill passed by the National Assembly on Monday a blow to freedom of expression. In a statement on Tuesday, the PFUJ said the government through some of the clauses of the bill had given “extraordinary powers to Pemra, while the little relief earlier given in the ordinance has been withdrawn.”

The PFUJ said there were at least six to eight clauses which needed debate in the media and discussion with and among media organizations.

The government was trying to give an impression that restrictions on the issuance of licences for cross-media ownership had been lifted with the bill, the PFUJ said and newspaper managements need to look into clauses under which Pemra can impose a ban on channels in the name of “national interest, national security, ideology of Pakistan and vulgarity”.