By: Agha Haider Raza
During his near-decade of power, Pervez Musharraf introduced many different pieces of legislation. The public at large admonished some laws, while few regulations were applauded. However, one ordinance in particular, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), signed in to law by 2002 is (should be) praised by all. The said ordinance not only capsized Musharraf’s regime, but has also brought a vibrant and dynamic media sector to Pakistan. The beauty of an independent media, free from the ownership of the state, provides room for an accountability mechanism in a democratic setup. Unfortunately the power players in Pakistan have not been able to understand and utilize this powerful domain.
Agha Haider Raza 