Much Needed Ruling.

With the liberalisation of media in Pakistan, many thought that the state would have no or little control on curbing of the political voices and opinions. But the then government was quick to establish a regulatory body, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). Pemra, instead of performing its primary task of being a supervisory authority, however, has become a tool in the hands of the government to curtail political voices. One cannot agree more with the latest judgement of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) that declares the Pemra bar on Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman's press conference illegal. The judgment rightly notes that Pemra's act violated the constitution and the Pemra Ordinance, 2002.

Unfortunately, the state has been using Pemra as a tool to continue its control over private electronic media after the end of Pakistan Television monopoly. State gagging political dissent or opposition leaders' point of views through Pemra defeats the whole purpose of establishing such a regulatory body. But the government probably forgets that other sources like the internet and social media are even more potent in propagating a person's ideas and opinion. In any case, those who want to listen to Moulana's press conference will listen to that via other means. But Pemra's verbal orders to stop channels from telecasting Moulana's presser show the state's paranoia.

It is sad to note that the government of...