Once again, access to the internet in Pakistan was restricted with the disruption in access to X, formerly Twitter, cutting off citizens’ right to freely access information. The disruption in access began on February 17 and has intermittently continued to be experienced for a third day on February 19. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), which has not provided any statement, must provide a credible explanation for this disruption and the continued use of closing and disrupting access to social media platforms such as X in the midst of key political developments.

Access to information online must be guaranteed, particularly in the post-election period when there remains much uncertainty about the political future of the country, emphasizing the need for citizens to be able to access information. 

This now seems to have become a regular practice of disrupting or closing access to social media platforms or the internet. It is akin to restricting free speech in Pakistan and undermines citizens’ right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. 

On February 17, users in Pakistan faced intermittent disruption in access to the social media platform. According to Netblocks, metrics showed a national-scale disruption. On February 18, Netblocks provided an update that X had been restricted for 24 hours.

For a third day, on February 19, users once again faced difficulty accessing X. According to Dawn, citing Downdetector, an outage was experienced in the morning around 10:30 am and, after being restored around noon, once again were disrupted after 1 pm.

In a statement shared on X, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said: “It also infringes on people’s right to democratic decision making, information, and expression. This practice must stop immediately.”

The new disruption in access to X comes after the closure of mobile connectivity and data services on election day on February 8 across Pakistan that, cast doubts on the credibility of the entire election and raised questions about the government’s motives for leaving citizens in the dark.

In the lead-up to the general elections, the country had also seen multiple disruptions in internet access. Recurrent disruptions to access social media were observed in December and January. While there was no official confirmation about the cause of the disruption, they took place when the Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf was hosting virtual events.

—-ENDS—-

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A police official in Rawalpindi has been suspended pending an inquiry following allegations of assaulting journalists covering a protest, as reported by Dawn on February 14, 2024.

The suspension came after a police official was charged for reportedly torturing journalists during a protest held by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in front of the Divisional Election Commission Rawalpindi on Sunday.

Regional Police Officer Syed Khurram Ali and City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani initiated an inquiry into the incident after it gained attention. SP Rawalpindi Faisal Saleem was appointed as the inquiry officer.

SP Saleem’s inquiry found Yasir Khan, a constable stationed at Police Station Pirwadhai, guilty of displaying extreme arrogance and disobeying senior orders regarding the dispersal of protesters. This behavior was deemed as gross misconduct and inefficiency.

In his report, SP Saleem highlighted Khan’s irresponsible, negligent, and careless conduct, indicating his apparent guilt of misconduct and inefficiency.

Additionally, City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani announced the posting of three Station House Officers (SHOs) in the Rawalpindi district on Thursday.

Inspector Sajjad Ul Hassan has been appointed as the new SHO of Kallar Syedan, replacing Subtain ul Hasnain, who has been shifted to SHO Pirwadhai. Sub-inspector Tayyab Zaheer Baig has been assigned as the SHO of Waris Khan police station.

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A video capturing Federal Caretaker Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, in a physical altercation with BBC journalist Mobeen Azhar during an interview has sparked controversy. Azhar’s probing questions on press freedom in Pakistan led to the tense exchange, raising concerns about journalistic integrity and government transparency.

A video circulating online has ignited widespread condemnation of Federal Caretaker Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, following his aggressive confrontation with BBC reporter Mobeen Azhar during an interview. The incident unfolded as Azhar pressed Solangi on issues concerning press freedom within Pakistan, a website ProPakistani reported.

In the footage, Azhar is seen introducing himself to Solangi before broaching the topic of state interference with journalists. However, instead of addressing Azhar’s inquiries, Solangi swiftly accused him of coercing the interview. Tensions mounted as Solangi attempted to seize Azhar’s phone, reprimanding him to “act like a BBC journalist and not Paparazzi.”

Despite the minister’s attempts to divert the conversation, Azhar persisted with his line of questioning. Solangi then questioned whether he had granted Azhar an interview slot, to which Azhar affirmed that the minister had indeed allocated time for the discussion, further intensifying the exchange.

The altercation has triggered outrage and renewed concerns over journalistic freedoms and government accountability in Pakistan. Solangi’s conduct has drawn widespread criticism, with calls for transparency and respect for the autonomy of the press.

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The PPF is alarmed by the intensification of cyberbullying tactics, particularly against female journalists, in the wake of electoral frustrations expressed by political entities. The online platforms, which should serve as spaces for free expression and democratic debate, are marred by harassment and intimidation. Such actions directly threaten the principles of press freedom and the safety of media personnel.

We urge all political parties and their leadership to denounce and curb such harassment campaigns against journalists unequivocally. It is imperative that a civil discourse be maintained and any disagreements with journalistic content be addressed respectfully and constructively.

In solidarity with journalists facing harassment and intimidation, we demand that relevant authorities ensure their safety and hold the perpetrators accountable. Immediate and decisive measures must be taken against those responsible for these reprehensible actions to prevent recurrence. Journalists’ safety and their right to report without fear must be upheld at all times.

In the wake of ARY News anchorperson Meher Bukhari’s tweet regarding Rana Sanaullah Khan, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), over fifty social media users have launched a barrage of attacks against the anchor. The onslaught includes a disturbing mix of vulgar and sexist comments alongside manipulated images and videos aimed at discrediting Bukhari. This digital aggression unfolded shortly after the PML-N announced on February 11th that Waseem Qadir, an independent victor from the National Assembly Constituency NA-121 Lahore, had officially joined their ranks on their official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Bukhari’s engagement in this political discourse began with her retweet of a message underscoring the value of personal dignity over loyalty to the vote. This action drew attention and was followed by a controversial move from the X account previously associated with Rana Sanaullah, now identified as @PresPMLNPunjab, which shared an old interview clip hinting at Bukhari’s involvement in media manipulation. In retaliation, Bukhari posted, and later deleted, older images of Rana post-kidnapping with a provocative caption about his electoral defeat. This exchange ignited a firestorm of criticism from PML-N supporters, who labeled Bukhari a “paid anchor” and escalated their attacks with invasive and offensive content.

Saddia Mazhar, the editor of The Reporters. pk, became the target of a severe online attack. Mazhar told PPF that her lighthearted tweet regarding the ongoing consultations between the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – sparked by news of discussions about forming a coalition government – led to a torrent of abusive messages on X. She reported that numerous accounts bombarded her with offensive and vulgar tweets, aggressively retweeting her posts. Despite her efforts to block these accounts, Mazhar continues to be plagued by a relentless influx of abusive messages.

Amir Mateen, the anchorperson for 92 News, has recently been subjected to hateful comments following his tweets critiquing the political landscape and the PML-N’s moves. In his posts, Mateen criticized the party for incorporating independent candidates and shared older videos of the party’s Chief Organizer, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in which she can be heard against party switchers. These remarks sparked a wave of abusive comments directed against him.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed deep concern over an organized campaign of character assassination and threats directed at senior journalists Meher Bukhari of ARY News and Amir Mateen of 92 News by elements allegedly associated with the PML-N on social media and demanding immediate action from the leadership of the party.  

The post Pakistan Press Foundation condemns smear campaign against journalists in Pakistan’s post-election turmoil first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) condemns multiple incidents targeting journalists and media professionals in the lead-up to the general elections on February 8. Journalists are an essential part of the democratic electoral process and must be able to report on key developments regarding the elections without facing consequences. 

PPF draws attention to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Code of Conduct for National Media, which states: “The government and law enforcement agencies shall provide due protection to media persons and media houses to maintain their freedom of expression as their fundamental right.”

The ECP Code of Conduct for Political Parties, Contesting Candidates, and Election Agents states that political parties will “firmly restrain” their workers from exerting influence on the media or resorting to violence against them.

The incidents in the critical period in the lead-up to the election, including violence, harassment, and online censorship, threaten the safety of the media and raise concerns about the media safety as the election approaches and also violate the ECP codes of conduct for the elections. This hampers journalists’ ability to fulfill their pivotal role in documenting and reporting on the electoral process accurately and impartially.

It is essential to highlight that the government is ultimately responsible for ensuring the freedom and safety of the media, as enshrined in the Constitution and the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021. We urge the authorities to uphold these constitutional obligations and protect the rights of journalists and the media.

Assault during coverage

On January 25, PNN reporter Noroz Rana was assaulted by supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) political party during a rally in Vehari, Punjab. 

Rana told PPF that he was interviewing attendees for their opinions while covering the rally in Vehari. Some younger participants expressed support for another party, Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, prompting Rana to ask them why they were attending a PML-N event. This led to a confrontation when a PML-N supporter accused Rana of trying to discredit the rally and incite violence against him. Two individuals, purportedly supporters of the party, verbally assaulted Rana, slapped him, and destroyed his camera. They also attacked him with his microphone, targeting his eye.

Rana noted that the incident occurred towards the rally’s conclusion when many reporters had left. He reported the incident to his organization and filed a complaint with the Vehari District Police Officer (DPO).

Adnan Tariq, the Public Relations Officer to the DPO, told PPF that officers are currently preoccupied with election duties, the DPO is aware of Rana’s situation and will take appropriate action following the elections.

In another incident, on January 30, at a political gathering in Lahore, the Talon News team, including reporter Hanooq, driver Hammad, and cameraperson Farooq, faced violence at the hands of PML-N supporters. 

During the rally, some individuals attempted to climb onto PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz’s vehicle. When Shehbaz’s security personnel intervened, pushing them away, the individuals fell to the ground. Nearby, the Talon News team was covering the event when they accidentally collided with some supporters, leading to a tense situation. Agitated by the encounter, those PML-N supporters launched an attack on the news team, slapping them and damaging their equipment.

On January 26, Naya Daur correspondent Moammar Qazzafi and his cameraman Moazzam Bukhari were assaulted by supporters of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and a candidate of the party, Ch. Adnan Sarwar Gorsi. 

The attack occurred while the Naya Daur reporters were covering Gorsi’s constituency PP-157 in Lahore. Due to disagreements during the coverage, PPP supporters allegedly physically assaulted Bukhari and damaged his camera.

Bukhari told PPF that he and his reporter, Qazzafi, visited the location for coverage and allegedly observed several unusual activities. Bukhari said that women were queuing to collect forms, which gave off an impression of pre-poll rigging despite the official claim that these were forms for the Benazir Income Support Program. When Qazzafi inquired about the purpose of their gathering, the staff on-site abruptly accused them of harassing the women and initiated a physical altercation against Bukhari. The confrontation resulted in Bukhari sustaining injuries near his head and eyes, and their camera was also damaged.

Following the incident, Bukhari filed a complaint at the local police station in the factory area, but the matter was eventually settled.

Digital Harassment of Journalists

GTV anchorperson Gharidah Farooqi became the target of online harassment allegedly by supporters of the PTI political party. In a tweet, Farooqi said that persons associated with PTI run campaigns against her every 10-15 days, and another such campaign had been launched against her. Farooqi said she had lodged a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the campaign in which the house address and phone number of Farooqi had been shared on social media, and she had faced character assassination and life threats. In a statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and General Secretary Arshad Ansari demanded PTI leadership take disciplinary action against party workers involved. They said that the PTI leadership would be responsible if Farooqi faced any personal or financial damage.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also condemned the harassment experienced by Farooqi.

Websites blocked

The website for the out-of-favor political party, PTI, were blocked. According to Dawn, PTI had launched an online portal for election information and a backup site. The top court of Pakistan had ruled against the party and upheld the withdrawal of its election symbol, the bat.

Since then, access to the websites has been restored.

PPF calls for an immediate end to all acts of violence, harassment, and online censorship targeting journalists and media professionals. With the elections a couple of days away, we urge the government to ensure a safe and conducive environment for media coverage of the elections in physical and digital spaces. Upholding the principles of democracy and freedom of expression is vital for a fair and transparent electoral process.

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Freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution. Journalists must be free to report on and analyze key developments in the country, including court proceedings, without being accused of partaking in “malicious campaigns.” 

As the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa has taken suo-motu notice of the incident and is hearing the case, PPF is hopeful that the court will direct the relevant authorities to ensure that the media is not subject to such punitive measures and can work without the fear of repercussions. 

On January 17, a joint investigation team was formed to investigate a smear campaign against judges. According to Dawn, reports were shared on social media that the FIA Cybercrime Wing issued notices to approximately 47 journalists after noticing a “smear campaign against judges.” 

One of the recipients of the notices, journalist Asad Ali Toor, uploaded a copy on X, formerly Twitter, which included details such as the inquiry number, name of the complainant (Anees Ur Rehman), and the gist of the allegations. The notice directed Toor to appear before and record his version at the FIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre.

Meanwhile, Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi on January 28 said that 110 notices had been sent of which the suspects included 32 journalists, Geo reported.

The minister was quoted saying: “Issuing notices to someone does not mean to harass someone or declare someone a criminal. If there is an arrest, FIR, house raid, abduction, or chase, then it can be called harassment.”

It is worthwhile to remind the information minister that notices are a measure that has a similar effect as that of case registration and proceedings against media professionals by intimidating them with the fear of legal proceedings and also sending a message to other journalists of the repercussions of certain coverage, reporting or analysis.

Additionally, Solangi added that it was important to state that freedom of expression was not unlimited and had “reasonable restrictions” including that you can’t run a campaign against the armed forces or judiciary that goes beyond the parameters of the Constitution and the law.

“Criticism is protected in the Constitution. We are not talking about criticism here; we are talking about humiliation and character assassination. Whatever has been done against the Supreme Court judges is in no way criticism […],” he said.

Article 19 of the Constitution states: “ Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, [commission of] or incitement to an offence.”

PPF urges the government to ensure that the media’s rights to report on developments and provide analysis are not restricted through notices by government bodies such as  FIA. Instead, they can continue their work without intimidation.

On January 27, the Press Association of the Supreme Court President Aqeel Afzal and Islamabad High Court Journalists Association President Fayaz Mahmood issued a joint statement condemning the notices to working journalists associated with media organizations. 

As per the statement, the two associations held a joint meeting with a one-point agenda to review the notices issued by the FIA to journalists. Both agreed that the FIA notices were a source of concern for the journalists’ community even though the Constitution safeguards a right to free expression, and the court has always encouraged productive criticism. The statement added that an independent media was necessary for democracy just as an independent court was.

Condemning the notices, the associations demanded that working journalists not be harassed by such steps and that the notices be taken back. They added that if the harassment by FIA did not stop, their next steps would be decided in consultation with other journalists’ organizations.

According to Dawn, after meeting with representatives of the two associations, CJP Isa, on January 27, took suo-motu notice of the “alleged harassment” of journalists and made a three-member bench to take up the case along with another case from 2021 at the request of the Press Association of the Supreme Court regarding harassment of journalists, Dawn reported.

During the case proceedings on January 29, the three-member bench “emphasized” that journalists should not be booked; however, they did not suspend the proceedings by the FIA, Dawn reported.

As the case resumed on Tuesday (January 30), the apex court gave media professionals time till the general elections to appear before the FIA. The Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, added that the notices against the journalists will be taken up after the elections, Geo reported.

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Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) calls on authorities to ensure uninterrupted internet access rather than issuing incredulous explanations and leaving the door open for future disruptions after social media access was again disrupted in Pakistan.

In what has become an unfortunate trend in the country, social media access was disrupted again on January 20. The disruption, which coincided with an online event organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) political party, was the third such disruption since December 2023. While there is no official confirmation about whether PTI activities are the reason behind the disruption, all disturbances in access to social media platforms coincided with virtual activities of the political party. 

With the elections set to take place in two weeks, in a period of heightened political activity and electioneering, such disruptions are even more damaging. It is imperative that citizens can access social media platforms without disruptions, and all political parties can campaign as per the rules without such disruptions.

On January 20, NetBlocks confirmed the nationwide disruption on social media platforms such as X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said  the disruption was caused by a “technical fault,” which had been fixed, and the internet services had been restored.

In a press conference, Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi was asked why the disruptions occur during the PTI’s online activities and whether he would ensure that internet services remain active closer to the elections. 

According to Dawn, Solangi said: “The economy, businesses, and prestige of the country are more important for us […] it is important for us to take care of them.”

Solangi said, according to the information he had, the disruption was caused due to technical factors such as system installations, adding that there could be no guarantee given that it would not take place in the future even if that may be what one wishes for.

At the press conference, PTA Director General Ahmed Shamim Pirzada said the disruption was due to technical glitches and system upgrades, Dawn reported.

The report quoted him as saying, “You can face this for the next two to three months, ” adding that he recalled similar instances taking place before.

This disruption was similar to other disruptions in the last two months —  on December 17, 2023, as the PTI was hosting a virtual rally and on  January 7, during another PTI virtual event.

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In a directive issued on Thursday afternoon, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) directed all its licensees operating under the ‘news and current affairs’ and ‘regional language’ to exercise utmost care while reporting on the issue. It also directed the media organizations to avoid “telecasting/breaking any unsubstantiated news” on the recent developments between Pakistan and Iran.

The authority also suggested that “it would be appreciated” if the information received from any source could be verified/confirmed from the spokesperson of the Foreign Office and other relevant state institutions.

“The licensees are expected to present factual information and reports through their transmission and support the state narrative at this crucial time as and when released from the relevant institution,” the directive mentioned.

Furthermore, all the news and programming heads and their respective teams have been asked to verify each and every piece of information received on their desks or Whatsapp groups, and aired only after necessary fact-checking. PEMRA said that any false reporting may cause unrest and insecurity among the public.

It also warned that in case of violation of the above orders, the authority would be constrained to proceed under sections 26, 29-A and 30 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2023.

Source: Samaa TV

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Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is concerned by the repeated disruptions in access to social media platforms in Pakistan. The recurrent disruptions in access to the internet, particularly social media platforms, is a dangerous tool being used to repress access to information and free speech. A worrying precedent for the control and restriction of free speech online is being set in Pakistan by restricting access to information online. PPF urges the relevant authorities to ensure that unhindered access to social media platforms is provided, particularly during the electioneering period ahead of the February 8 general elections. The underlying cause of these repeated disruptions must also be investigated.

On January 7, users faced difficulty accessing social media platforms for the second time within a month. While there is no official confirmation about the cause of the disruption, it took place when the Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf party was launching an election fundraising telethon. Less than a month ago, on December 17, 2023,  internet outages were reported during a PTI virtual power show.

On January 7, NetBlocks confirmed a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not officially issued any statement regarding the disruption.

Using its official X account, the PTI has raised concerns about a recurring trend of internet connectivity problems coinciding with their virtual activities.

The party has asked the Supreme Court to take notice of internet disruptions, Dawn reported.

Ahead of general elections, all political parties must be provided with a level playing field and the ability to conduct their political activities. By blocking access to the internet, particularly social media, not only are political parties unable to fundraise and communicate with citizens, but the media also faces challenges in reporting during this critical period. Uninterrupted access online is vital in the pre-election, election day, and post-election period.

The post PPF concerned by repeated disruptions in access to social media; calls it a dangerous tool to repress access to information and free speech first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) condemns the recent disruptions to access to social media platforms in Pakistan.  While it is not possible to ascertain if this was the cause of the disruption, the disruption in services experienced on December 17 occurred at a time when the Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf party was hosting a virtual rally. PPF urges authorities to ensure that social media services remain accessible in the country and that such attempts to disrupt access are not taken.

According to Dawn, on December 17, social media users experienced difficulty using social media platforms in various cities as well as slow internet services on Sunday night.

NetBlocks confirmed the disruption in access to social media, stating that there was a “nation-scale disruption.” They added that it had occurred just ahead of a virtual gathering by the PTI.

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority said that it was “looking into reports that internet services witnessed disruption in some parts of the country,” The News reported. In the statement that was issued a day after the disruption, the PTA said that internet services in the country were “normal.”

In response to the incident, the PTI tweeted from their official X account, stating:  “In what was an expected move, the illegitimate, fascist regime has slowed down internet speed and disrupted social media platforms all across Pakistan, prior to PTI’s historic Virtual Jalsa! This is proof of the fear of the unprecedented popularity of Imran Khan’s PTI!”

This is not the first time that Pakistan has experienced such a disruption in internet services of access to social media platforms. 

In May 2023, in an unprecedented step, the PTA imposed a days-long block on mobile internet services and restricted access to social media websites. The blanket ban came into place on May 9, as protests broke out following the arrest of Imran Khan. On May 12, mobile internet services were restored. Despite this, access to social media remained restricted till May 15, when it was fully restored. 

The closure of mobile internet services and restricted access to social media created challenges for the media to report and disseminate information, affected the citizens’ ability to stay informed, particularly during significant political activity and uncertainty, and had an economic impact. According to Reuters, point of sales transactions fell by 50 percent, a day after the mobile internet services were suspended.   

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