How do you curb disinformation while promoting free speech? Pakistan's case shows it's not easy

In 2019, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority chairman had to apologise unconditionally to the then-chief justice of the Islamabad High Court. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, or Pemra for short, had directed channels not to feature TV anchors as news analysts on shows other than their own, based on a court order. Except there was no court order. When Pakistan Muslim League (N) supremo Nawaz Sharif was granted bail after a stint in jail and his platelet count dropped dramatically, several anchorpersons had gone on air, alleging that a deal had taken place in which the judiciary was…