On May 3, journalists’ associations in Pakistan expressed concerns over the country’s deteriorating state of media freedom. The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) and the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) issued statements shedding light on the myriad challenges faced by journalists in Pakistan.
AEMEND condemned the increase in attacks on journalists, with many losing their lives or being injured in the line of duty. They decried restrictions on media outlets, including pressure tactics leading to job losses and unwarranted demands from state and non-state actors. The association expressed particular concern over the character assassination of journalists, especially women in the media, used as a tool to silence dissent.
In addition to physical threats, AEMEND pointed out tactics to curb media freedom, ranging from unwarranted notices from government agencies to the shutdown of communication services during important events. The association also criticized the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for issuing directives that appear arbitrary.
CPNE also highlighted a similar situation in its report, covering the period from January 2023 to April 2024, which provides a grim assessment of the ongoing assault on press freedom. The report emphasized the experiences of journalists, including targeted assaults, arrests, and threats from influential figures in the political and private sectors.
Financial constraints compound the challenges faced by media personnel, with delayed advertisement payments exacerbating the already precarious financial situation of media outlets. The CPNE called upon the government to expedite the release of outstanding dues, emphasizing the critical role of financial stability in safeguarding journalistic independence.
The situation for press freedom and media safety in Pakistan, as reflected in the Pakistan Press Foundation’s World Press Freedom Day 2024 report, was one of legal action, arrests, continued attacks, internet closures, and regulation that hindered the media’s ability to cover a year of key political developments.
In 2023, PPF documented at least: 46 instances of manhandling/injuries, five instances of raids, eight instances of damage to property or DSNG vans of media houses or attacks on the residence of journalists, four detentions, five instances of media professionals being abducted, kidnapped or going missing, 14 instances of harassment including stopping them from coverage or heckling them, 28 instances of online or in-person threats or harassment including death threats, 16 arrests, nine instances of case registration other than arrests, three instances of arrest warrants being issued, 12 instances of PEMRA prohibition orders, directives or instructions being issued, two instances of show-cause notices being issued, four instances of television broadcast being suspended, six instances of online or mobile connectivity censorship including restrictions in access to social media platforms and one instance where court barred coverage.
Between January and April 2024, PPF has so far documented at least: eight instances of manhandling/injuries, seven instances of online or in-person threats or harassment, including death threats, two instances of arrests, one instance of case registration other than arrests, two instances of notices issued including one of approximately 47 journalists being issued notices by the FIA Cybercrime Wing, two instances of PEMRA prohibition orders, directives or instructions being issued, one instance of show-cause notices being issued to four channels, nine instances of online or mobile connectivity censorship including restrictions in access to social media platforms, three instances where court or police barred coverage and one instance where two media professionals’ names were placed on the Exit Control List.