As many as 39 Senators have moved a motion in the present Senate session for rejection of Pemra and Newspaper Ordinances, both promulgated in 2007. The forthcoming Senate session will meet next Monday (February 25).
They submitted the motion under Article 69 of the Constitution, calling for disapproval of the Pemra third Ordinance, 2007 as well as Press, Newspaper, News Agencies and Books Registration Amendment Ordinance, 2007. President Pervez Musharraf promulgated these two ordinances on November 3, imposing curbs on print and electronic media.
The two ordinances - the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, 2002 - barring print and electronic media from printing and broadcasting "anything, which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state". Under the ordinance, the government has been empowered to discontinue publication of newspapers for up to 30 days.
In case of television channels, up to three years of jail and Rs 10 million fine or both would be imposed and broadcast license or its representative and their equipment and premises will be forfeited.
A week ago, Senate Secretariat also circulated a list of two government bills - 29 private members bills, 11 privilege motions, six adjournment motions, four resolutions, nine points of order and 11 reference of questions to the committees, pending in the Senate until the last 41st session held in January, 2008. Among the pending private members bill is one introduced by former Senator Farhatullah Babar and moved on February 7, 2005, proposing amendment in Income Tax Ordinance Bill, 2004.
Among the pending bills is one proposing amendment in the Constitution, moved on June 15, 2005 and proposed by Mian Raza Rabbani, Farooq Hamid Naek, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Enver Baig, Ruskhsana Zuberi, Farhatullah Babar, Abdullah Riar, Abdul Latif Ansari, Sardar Latif Khosa, Syed Sajid Hssain Bukhari and Dr Muhammad Akbar Khwaja.
It is also unlikely that the Senate would complete 51 pending session days before March 12, since it is lagging behind 51 days of sitting. According to DPR Sajid Mohsin, the old press gallery passes will remain valid for the forthcoming session.