LAHORE, June 1: The Labour Party Pakistan on Friday demonstrated against what it called new restrictions on media, particularly electronic media, in the wake of directions given to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to regulate the transmission of different television channels.

LPP secretary-general Farooq Tariq, heading the demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club, demanded the restrictions should be withdrawn as they interfered with the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

Speakers said on the occasion that the regime was systematically damaging the state institutions and muzzling the freedom of expression was the latest step in the direction.

They said Pemra had been instructed to enforce a discipline which was beyond its mandate.

A heavy contingent of police was present during the protest which terminated after about half an hour.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court Bar Association has also condemned the government effort to restrict the electronic media, in particular, which would not be able to present live coverage of anti-government rallies and other protest demonstrations.

LHCBA president Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon and secretary Sarfraz Ahmad Cheema said the objective behind the new restrictions was to prevent private television channels from covering lawyers’ rallies. They also condemned the Sindh chief minister for making the assertion that the lawyers’ campaign was being funded from outside the country. They said the allegation was baseless and the bar had the right to move against the chief minister for trying to bring the lawyers’ democratic movement into disrepute.