Pakistan to repeal stringent press laws

By Kamran Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's new government decided on Wednesday to repeal stringent press laws introduced by President Pervez Musharraf after imposing emergency rule in November, information minister said.

The move is another indication of how Musharraf, whose allies suffered a crushing defeat in elections on Feb. 18, is facing growing isolation.

"The cabinet has given approval for the repeal of all discriminatory amendments made in the PEMRA laws," Information Minister Sherry Rehman told a news conference, referring to the government media regulatory authority.

Musharraf had accused some television channels of adding to the political uncertainty that led to the imposition of emergency rule on Nov. 3, and enforced rules prohibiting the media from broadcasting or publishing statements ridiculing him, top government officials and the military.

An offender could be sentenced to up to three years in jail or fined.

All private channels were taken off the air until Musharraf lifted emergency rule in December.

Rehman said the government would present a bill for repealing the amendments in the National Assembly on Thursday.

"Now nobody will be able to snatch your equipment. Nobody will be cancelling your publications or blocking your channels," she said.

The media flourished in Pakistan after Musharraf seized power in a military coup in 1999 but it was highly critical of him after he tried to fire Chief Justice of Supreme Court Iftikhar Chaudhry in March last year.