President General Pervez Musharraf re-promulgated the Contempt of Court Ordinance after it expired on July 15, 2004 . It is currently with the National Assembly for enactment as law. This law regulates the exercise of the powers of the judiciary to punish for contempt of court including media reporting deemed adverse and disrespectful. Previously, the Contempt of Court Act, 1976, was in place that had been repealed through this new ordinance. Maximum penalties include six months in jail and/or a fine of up to Rs 100,000 ($1,665).

The National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan 's bicameral parliament, amended the controversial Defamation Ordinance 2002 despite objections from the media and opposition political parties. The penalties for those found guilty of slander or libel were dramatically enhanced from a minimum fine of Rs 50,000 ($835) to Rs 100,000 ($1,665) and/or a prison term of up to five years, up from three months.

Move to toughen electronic media law – March 15, 2005

The government pushed through in the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting a set of amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002, which, if approved by both houses of national parliament, will make it easier for the authorities to arrest broadcasters, cancel radio and television licenses, enhance control over broadcast content and raise fines on broadcasters a staggering tenfold, among the litany of proposed changes.