NEW YORK, June 6: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority amended Ordinance 2007 has been criticised by international journalists and human rights’ groups. In a press release issued here, the Human Rights Watch said that the Pakistan government should immediately rescind the presidential decree imposing restrictions on the country’s broadcast media.

“The Pakistani media is only doing its job by reporting on the government’s troubles. Pakistani citizens denied access to information are now paying the price,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at the Human Rights Watch.

“Musharraf’s decree is a disgraceful assault on media freedom imposed by a leader who came to power by a coup instead of the ballot box.”

Referring to the May 22 incident when bullets were planted in the cars of three Karachi journalists by an MQM-affiliated group, the Mohajir Rabita Council, Mr Adams said: “These threats present a real danger to journalists. The MQM has a long record of political harassment, extortion, torture and targeted killings. Musharraf’s failure to take action against the MQM suggests that he condones the MQM’s behaviour.”

The statement quoted Mr Adams as saying: “Instead of taking steps to protect journalists and media freedom, Musharraf’s government has intensified its assault on the press. Musharraf should realise that stifling the media will not prevent power ebbing away from him. It will only hasten it.”

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a press release expressing its backing for the observance of June 7 as a ‘black day’, a call made by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).

“Journalists’ organisations around the world need to band together to force the Pakistani government to protect press freedom and strike down the culture of impunity that has pervaded the country,” said IFJ Asia-Pacific director Jacqueline Park.

She said that the IFJ fully supported the PFUJ’s protests against threats to media organisations and staff, and mounting curbs imposed by the Pemra amended Ordinance 2007.

“The world needs to show President Musharraf that his administration’s brand of blatant disregard for basic human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law will not be tolerated,” said Ms Park.