I hope the proposed court works efficiently and impartially
TURBAT: Media is known as the fourth pillar of the state. Without it the state is incomplete. Recently, the government of Pakistan has floated the idea of setting up media courts for the regulation of news and the accountability of media. This is a direct threat to the freedom of speech. Much effort is being put in to curtail freedom. The media acts as a mirror that is held up in front of societies and authorities. It shows what and who we really are. Certain groups within the country want to restrict the media through regulations, in order to portray a false image of the country. Furthermore, the media holds accountable those that consider themselves beyond reproach. By restricting this, the actions of those in power are left unchecked.
However, there is a positive side to this. The proposed special courts will exclusively hear complaints by the media industry against the government as well as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). Workers, correspondents and journalists will be able to lodge their complaints in the court over unpaid salaries and other employment-related issues. I hope the proposed court works efficiently and impartially.
Shakir Baloch
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2019.
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