Pakistan ? President Gen. Pervez Musharraf tightened controls on Pakistan’s media Monday, the latest move against dissent in a growing political crisis over his suspension of the chief justice.

Under an emergency ordinance effective immediately, Musharraf made a raft of amendments to regulations governing the electronic media, including private television channels that the general has accused of anti-government bias.

The ordinance says authorities can seal the premises of broadcasters or distributors breaking the law, and raises possible fines for violations from $16,665 to $166,650.

The Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which supervises radio and TV stations, can also suspend the license of an offender.

Musharraf had fostered unprecedented media freedom since he seized power in a 1999 coup. However, he has grown exasperated with extensive coverage of the crisis triggered by his March 9 ouster of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. The turnaround has been accompanied by a spate of threats and beatings against prominent journalists for which authorities have denied responsibility.