The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed a legislation granting sweeping powers to the speaker to regulate media coverage of legislative proceedings, including the authority to bar journalists from the assembly and impose restrictions on the publication and broadcast of its proceedings.
The new law was passed on April 30 through a supplementary agenda, and was kept hidden from the public for several months. The law prescribes prison terms, fines and other penalties for journalists and media organisations found to have violated its provisions.
Under the legislation, the speaker may prohibit a journalist from covering assembly proceedings for a specified period. The speaker is also empowered to ban the publication or broadcast of assembly proceedings.
Journalists who violate such restrictions could face up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 1 million Pakistani, or both.
The law also provides for legal action against journalists or media organisations accused of reporting assembly proceedings in a distorted, misleading or misrepresented manner. Conviction for such an offence could result in up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs300,000.
In addition, the legislation makes it an offence for a journalist to level allegations of bias against the speaker or criticise the speaker's conduct. Those found in violation may face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to Rs1 million.
The law further prohibits the publication or broadcast of a standing committee report before it has been formally tabled in the Assembly. Violation may result in three months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs300,000.
Publishing or broadcasting an adjournment motion before it is presented in the assembly is also punishable under the legislation, carrying a maximum sentence of one month and a fine of up to Rs100,000.
