World Press Freedom Day: Journalists facing threats from ‘invisible actors’

Govt urged to develop strategy to counter impunity of violence

ISLAMABAD: Journalists in Pakistan are facing a new type of threat: from invisible actors who are targeting them for their reporting.

This was stated by participants of a roundtable hosted by Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at the National Press Club (NPC) to commemorate the 2018 World Press Freedom Day.

During the roundtable, journalists, media workers and politicians on Wednesday adopted a 10-point declaration which reaffirming their resolve to uphold the freedom of media and expression called on the government to develop an effective strategy to fight impunity in cases of violence and threats against journalists.

Participants, including journalists, members of the civil society, leaders from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) supported the resolution.

The declaration condemned all incidents of covert and overt threats, intimidation, harassment and violence against journalists.

It also condemned the crackdown on the digital expression of journalists and political workers through direct and indirect means and calls for reforms in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

The participants also affirmed their commitment to establishing a secure digital environment for the free expression of journalists, political workers, activists and citizens.

Belling fake news

All political leaders, who attended the discussion, supported a free press but also called for responsible reporting and accountability for fake news.

PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari stressed the importance of a free press for democracy.

“A democracy cannot function without a free press,” Bokhari said, adding, “Media (freedoms) are essential for the creation of public opinion.”

However, former Senate chairman said there was also a great responsibility on the press to report with accuracy and integrity.

Just as politicians are held to account in news stories every day, he said that journalists too should be held accountable for their reporting.

Former PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said that in recent years, a new threat had emerged against journalists.

“This new threat is from invisible actors,” Babar explained. “This is more potent and dangerous than any other threat to journalists, even more than threats from state and non-state actors.”

He added the journalist-community’s suggestions have been included in a draft bill on journalist safety and journalists should push the government for passage of the bill.

Babar said the state should realise the dangers posed by the suppression of dissent and move to resolve the grievances of its citizens.

Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, the information secretary for PTI, said that his party completely supports freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

“There should be no compromise on the respect and dignity of the press,” Chohan said. “We 100 per cent support that there should be no pressure, political or otherwise, on the respect, dignity and journalistic identity of Pakistani journalists.”

With his party often targetting particular media channels, Chohan stressed that journalists should consider the national interest in pursuit of their professional duties.

“If someone disagrees with your opinion, it should not mean that you silence their speech,” Dr Fauzia Hameed of the PSP said, adding, “If you cannot respect opinions, then that is contrary to the spirit of democracy.”

Journalists present at the discussion raised concerns about restrictions on reporting, the threat of physical violence to journalists from political party workers and non-state actors, and the lack of tolerance for unsympathetic and offensive speech among political leaders.

They said the Pakistani media is not free and urged the journalist unions to unite in their protest against curbs on the media levelled by state and non-state actors.

The PFUJ president claimed not even 10 per cent of the news media was free. He said journalists were facing unprecedented threats in reporting accurately and truthfully.

Butt said the journalistic community should collectively think about the future of independent journalism in the country. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2018.