KARACHI: Though the Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan and Universal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR guarantee freedom of expression and free media, but media in Pakistan continued to be in chains or under strict form of physical intimidation like killings and self-censorship regime during 2019 like preceding years.
It is revealed by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) in its Pakistan Media Freedom Report 2019 issued here on Sunday. It has compilation of cases, number of victims and sequence of events made mockery of freedom of media and freedom of speech in the country.
Reports also contained recommendations by Arif Nizami, the President, CPNE. The report says that despite the fact that there is a specific law on defamation, but the government and other actors used Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, PECA and Pakistan Penal Codes criminalisation sections against media practitioners in Pakistan.
At least 60 journalists were booked under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, in 35 cases which included 50 journalists from Sindh province alone.
The report said that first ever conviction for possession of banned material was also made Chaudhry Nasrullah member of Karachi Press Club was convicted for five years imprisonment with fine on allegations of possessing banned material by Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi.
According to available data, at least seven journalists reportedly were murdered during the year 2019 while reports suggest at least 15 journalists were injured during attacks in the line of duty. The mysterious and unidentified actors unknown constituted the biggest threat to press freedom as it was in the previous year as well. The second biggest threats to the lives of journalists were non state actors outlawed terrorist and militant groups who continued their attacks on journalists and media in previous year too report mentioned.
The pathetic state of un-announced impunity for those who attack the media can be perceived from the fact that not a single killer or attacker of journalists and media persons was brought to justice. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while taking a lead introduced the first provincial law on Right to Information (RTI) followed by Punjab and Sindh respectively. The Federal Capital Islamabad adopted new legislation on RTI as well.
However, in the province of Balochistan, RTI laws were remained a distant dream, report noted. Pakistan Media Freedom Report 2019 further stated it was claimed by government that cyber law Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 would deal with cybercrimes and online harassment of women and would not be used against journalists media. But on the contrary the same law had been used against media freedom and freedom of expression in one way or other.
In an attempt what can be termed as a flagrant attempt to curb media freedom the PTI government announced to form special tribunals, media courts to tight its grip on media. But due to strong opposition by the CPNE and other stake holders, the government dropped the proposal. The Press Information Department (PID) in a move to introduce advertisement policy by federal government shared a draft of the proposed policy with various stakeholders, including CPNE.
According to media professionals the advertisements are being used as tool to restrict media freedom and keeping this in view, the CPNE shared its feedback on the policy. According to World Press Freedom Index, Pakistan ranked 142 out of 180 comparison countries which gives the indication of how media in Pakistan was under threat. On the other side extreme fear and self-censorship continued haunting media freedom and free expression in the country report observed.
According to available data at least seven journalists, including Urooj Iqbal, Mirza Wasim Baig, Muhammad Bilal Khan, Ali Sher Rajpar and Malik Amanullah Khan reportedly were murdered during the year.
The mysterious and unidentified actors unknown constituted the biggest threat to press freedom as was in the previous year as well. The other threat factor included members of political parties, religious groups and state authorities who allegedly had murdered, attacked journalists. Due to its stories and content Daily Dawn came under the severe attack as its offices were besieged by angry organised mobs in Islamabad and Karachi, while foul language was used against the Dawn management, including its Chief Editor Zaffar Abbas, the report lamented
Discussing Pemra role, CPNE reported that Pemra not only issued notices to TV channels but barred some anchors from offering opinions on TV channels and talk shows. It was ordered not to discuss the issue pertaining release of PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif on bail. While News Channels were directed not to cover live telecast of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz’s press conference and issued notices to 21 news TV channels for non-compliance added the report
An interview of Asif Ali Zardari former President of Pakistan and co-Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party with host Hamid Mir was stopped from being aired shortly after it started on Geo News in July 2019. Geo News, 24 News, Abbtakk, Capital and DAWN News were taken off air due to coverage of Mualana Fazalur Rehman’s press conference on Azadi March.
News channel 24 News was served notice on the complaint of the Prime Minister and Pemra imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the news channel the report said CPNE report further shared that by using anti-terror and other laws at least 60 journalists were booked under Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in 35 cases which included 50 journalists from Sindh province alone.
Journalists were booked under allegations of Bhatta Khori kidnapping for ransom police encounters attempted murder and blackmailing. Whereas the journalists alleged that they were victimised owing to their fair reporting against the authorities.
In the report, Arif Nizami President, CPNE, has recommended enactment of special federal and provincial laws for safety of journalists should be done to obligate the legal system to protect journalists and special federal and provincial prosecutors be appointed.
A unified self-regulated code of conduct should be introduced and implemented by media houses journalists bodies, he urged. Enacting safety policies, safety protocols and annual safety audits should be done in house at media houses aimed at preempting and preventing risks threats to their journalists other staff and media houses. Resources should also be pooled for prosecution of crimes against journalists, he further suggested.
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