Pakistan's draconian proposed press law stirs controversy

Super regulator will have total media oversight and suspension powers

Journalists and civil society advocates staged a protest in Islamabad on May 28 against the government's proposed consolidated media regulator, which they said threatens Pakistan's already weak fifth estate. © AP

WALEED TARIQ, Contributing writer

June 11, 2021 13:02 JST

ANKARA -- Pakistan is trying to push through a new law intended to centralize government oversight of the media, fueling concerns about further deterioration of press freedom in the South Asian country.

According to the World Press Freedom Index compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders in France, Pakistan's ranking has dropped since Prime Minister Imran Khan came into office from 139 in 2018 to 145 in 2021.