Media is known as the fourth pillar of the state. Without it the state is incomplete. Recently, the government on Tuesday approved a plan to form ‘‘media courts’’ for the first time in the country, apparently to seek speedy disposal of media-related cases within a particular time limit of 90 days.

This is a direct threat to the freedom of speech. Much effort is being put in to curtail freedom. The media acts as a mirror that is held up in front of societies and authorities. It shows what and who we really are. Certain groups within the country want to restrict the media through regulations, in order to portray a false image of the country. Furthermore, the media holds accountable those that consider themselves beyond reproach. By restricting this, the actions of those in power are left unchecked.

The plan was approved by the federal cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Briefing the media about the cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to the PM on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said what she called ‘‘media tribunals’’ would be formed after passage of a bill by the parliament while conceding that the government had not taken all stakeholders including media persons, owners of media houses and media bodies into confidence on this move.

“The prime minister has ordered that a bill envisaging formation of media tribunals be tabled in the current session of the National Assembly for a healthy debate on the issue,” she said, adding that the government “would sit with the media organisations on the matter later”.

Dr Awan said that until now media-related cases were being dealt by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Press Council of Pakistan, but now Pemra would refer such cases to media tribunals. “Not only new cases but all pending cases will be sent to the tribunals. Media tribunals will not only take up cases against media persons and media house owners, but also against the government,” she said.

However, The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors’ (CPNE) standing committee unanimously rejected the proposal of establishment of media tribunals and warned the government to refrain from introducing such “dictatorial and black laws”.

The standing committee observed that any attempt to curb media would not be accepted and extreme action would be taken and government would be responsible for it. “CPNE will issue detailed handout on Friday regarding future strategy,” said the statement.

What laws these new courts implement will make all the difference however, the new tribunals lead to the suspicion that they are about gaining control over the electronic media at the cost of press freedom.  The journalist community’s first and foremost grievance is a lack of freedom, media courts signify a step towards institutionalised government regulation official censorship  so that the state’s stranglehold on the media will be complete.

The government has a track record of trying to have one body to deal with both electronic and print media, and it has tried to have a single regulatory body for both media, thereby proposing the merger of the Press Council of Pakistan with PEMRA. It is capable, if it gets what it wants from the tribunals, of extending this idea to print media as well. The purpose would only be to stifle the criticism the media is making, because it is acting as the voice of the people.

No democracy can thrive without a free press, and a government secure in its mandate to rule, must be open to fair comment.

“Media is already going through tough times due to government policies. Through this decision, they are trying to put more restrictions and bans on media.