A media watchdog has condemned a decision by Pakistani authorities ordering news anchors not to express their opinions on air, the latest in a series of assaults on press freedom in the South Asian country.

The statement by Reporters Without Borders, released on Tuesday, came after Pakistan‘s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) sent the directive to TV channels on Sunday, sparking an outcry from some of the country’s most prominent news anchors.

The statement asked anchors to refrain from commenting on matters that are “under trial” in the courts.

But it adds that only “unbiased” analysts with “requisite” knowledge should be invited to speak on any subject, and warns that anchors must stick to moderating only, excluding their “personal opinions, biases and judgements on any issue”.

Many Pakistan television channels host multiple current affairs and politics programmes with often lively discussions of the day’s events.

But the space for dissent has been shrinking fast in recent months, with rights activists voicing concerns and many journalists already practising self-censorship so as not to cross the powerful army, which has ruled the country for roughly half its 72-year history.

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“It is not the media regulator’s role to dictate who can express opinions during debates, or to decree what can or cannot be said,” said Daniel Bastard, head of Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Asia-Pacific desk, in a statement.

“This grotesque PEMRA directive not only violates journalistic independence and pluralism but even goes so far as to criminalise opinions.

“We urge PEMRA’s members to recover a semblance of credibility by rescinding this order, whose sole aim is to intimidate media outlets and journalists.”

RSF said the PEMRA directive was sent after television journalists commented last week on the release of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, bailed from prison on health grounds.

Judges had “expressed annoyance” over the comments, the monitor said, adding that Sharif is one of the subjects seen as implicitly off limits.

One political analyst is being charged with contempt of court, RSF added.