Press freedom
The rise in Pakistan’s ranking by seven places — from 157 to 150 out of 180 countries — in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index suggests that some progress has been made in addressing the longstanding challenges to press freedom in the country. However, it should not be taken as a sign of unfettered progress. The fact is that grave challenges, many of which are mentioned in the report, continue to plague press freedom in Pakistan.
Under the guise of protecting journalism, Pakistani law is used to censor any criticism of those in power while PEMRA remains more focused on regulating content than regulating the media sector itself. Private media houses are seen dependent on state-sector ads, creating a situation where editorial policies are subject to influence from the state. These are indeed pressing issues that undermine the credibility of Pakistani journalism and place journalists who fight for the truth in a precarious situation. In stark contrast to the RSF report, the annual Pakistan Press Freedom Report states that a 60% increase in threats and attacks against journalists were witnessed with at least 140 cases reported over the past year. Islamabad has been identified as the riskiest place to practice journalism followed by Punjab and Sindh respectively. Meanwhile, the situation in Balochistan, which is deemed as a graveyard for journalists, continues to be under-represented.
In the light of these developments, it is critical that the government take concrete action. A safety commission must be established at the earliest as per the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021 as its absence has promoted impunity of crimes against journalists for far too long. Journalists should be able to report on government and state affairs without fear of reprisal, and authorities should recognise the critical role of the media in holding those in power accountable and promote transparency.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2023.
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