But the legislation has come under strong criticism from opposition parties and the country's powerful military.

VOA: standard.2009.10.16

its press freedom non-existent and demonstrations broken up by "repressive" security services - all that face-to-face with arguably the most powerful man in the country.

VOA: standard.2010.06.10

The country's powerful Islamic media, which traditionally supports the government, has called for severing ties.

VOA: standard.2010.06.03

But some Pakistani political factions and the country's powerful military have been bitterly critical of provisions in the legislation which,among other things, requires the Obama administration to report to Congress every six months on whether Pakistan's newly-democratic government is exercising effective civilian control over the military.

VOA: standard.2009.10.13