Pakistan's new leaders: Relax control of news media

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's new government introduced a bill yesterday to lift curbs on the media, its first legislative move to loosen controls imposed by President Pervez Musharraf under a state of emergency.

Information Minister Sherry Rehman said 10 clauses would be repealed from the "black laws" imposed after Musharraf declared emergency rule Nov. 3.

The changes will end the power of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to seal a network's premises, seize equipment, revoke an operating license arbitrarily, issue crippling fines for violation of the industry's code of conduct, and curb live coverage.

The four-party ruling coalition that emerged from Feb. 18 parliamentary elections has promised to curtail Musharraf's clout, review his U.S.-backed policies against terrorism, and shore up the economy.

Musharraf also purged the Supreme Court last year just before it could rule on the legality of his October reelection as president. Reinstating senior judges has been the main commitment holding together the coalition, which took office last week.

How to do that already is creating dissension.

The parties of slain former leader Benazir Bhutto and another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, have promised to bring back the judges through a parliamentary resolution by the end of this month. Sharif's party wants them restored immediately, while Bhutto's party wants a comprehensive judicial reform package.

Tackling the media restrictions provided a relatively quick and easy victory.

"This is a gift from the government, but not arbitrarily, because you have done a lot of struggle for this," Rehman told a news conference after the bill was sent to committee. "This is our first step. We will do more for the independence of media, both electronic and print, in the days to come."

Some observers believe Musharraf will have to quit if ousted Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, accused by Musharraf of conspiracy and corruption and put under house arrest, returns. Others have suggested Musharraf could survive, particularly if the new coalition government begins to crack.

A series of violent incidents, including rioting that killed 10 people Wednesday in the southern city of Karachi, has revitalized Musharraf's supporters, who were routed in the February elections.