ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistani journalists warned on Saturday media freedom had been under intense pressure for over a year due to increasing political polarization in the country, adding they anticipated these restrictions to persist until the next elections scheduled to be held in October this year.

Political uncertainty engulfed Pakistan following the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from power through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April last year, leading to heightened pressure on the media to water down his criticism against the government and military establishment during the public rallies.

Pakistan ranks 150 out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). There has been more than 60 percent increase in the number of threats and attacks against journalists between May 2022 and March 2023, according to Freedom Network’s annual Pakistan Press Freedom Report that recorded at least 140 such cases during the same period.

“There is no editorial independence and no media freedom in Pakistan at the moment,” senior journalist and talk show host Mohammad Malick told Arab News. “The current curbs on the press freedom are one of the toughest in the last 25 years.”

“There is definitely serious curtailment on media freedom when you cannot even mention the name of a political party [leader],” he continued while referring to an unofficial ban on mentioning of ex-premier Imran Khan’s name on the media.

“This serious undeclared infringement on the press freedom is not going to ease up at least in the next five to six months,” he said, adding the situation was likely to continue even after the upcoming general elections.

Pakistan is scheduled to hold nationwide polls in October after the expiry of five-year term of the national and provincial assemblies, though uncertainty still looms over the exact dates of the electoral contest along with the number of parties and candidates who would participate in them.

“Political uncertainty in Pakistan has contributed to this squeeze on press freedom and freedom of expression,” RSF country representative and Freedom Network’s executive director Iqbal Khattak told Arab News.

“The squeeze on press freedom is against Pakistani constitution and fundamental rights of the people,” he noted. “Therefore, the superior judiciary should intervene to lift the curbs on the media.”

Khattak said journalist unions had been weakened and divided over the unannounced censorship in the country, making it easy for various power centers to stifle dissenting voices since journalists could no longer present a “united front.”

However, some broadcast journalists noted press freedom also depended on individual journalists.

“It is the choice of individual journalists if they want to self-censor things or be bold like me and say whatever they want to say in public interest,” senior journalist and talk show host Sana Bucha told Arab News.

She admitted there were instructions not to mention the name of ex-PM Khan on television or invite some lawyers and political leaders on current affairs programs, though she added she did not have any issue if someone who wanted “to spread anarchy in the society” was banned from the media.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also acknowledged media censorship in the country while urging all political parties and civil society groups to work with the journalists to strengthen the press freedom and freedom of expression in the country.

“A vibrant democracy and media freedom go hand in hand in any country, but in Pakistan the press freedom has worsened in the last eight to ten years with political and economic uncertainty,” a former PFUJ president, Shahzada Zulfiqar, told Arab News.

“Political parties support journalists and press freedom while they are in opposition. But they tend to impose restrictions when they come into power,” he added.

Source: Arab News

The post Pakistani journalist’s express concerns over diminishing media freedom amid deepening political polarization first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ISLAMABAD: Former president of Pakistan and President Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Asif Ali Zardari said that the PPP will continue to support the freedom of press.

In his message on the World Press Freedom Day, Zardari said that Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a supporter of freedom of expression. He taught the common people how to voice their views by giving them political consciousness.

He said that Benazir Bhutto freed the print media from the paper quota because in the past, governments used the paper quota as a weapon to restrict the freedom of the press.

The former president paid tribute to the heroes of press freedom who were flogged and imprisoned during the martial law era.

Zardari said that today, the means of spreading information continue to progress through technological advancements. He said that the 1973 Constitution protects the freedom of expression.

Source:  Business Recorder

The post PPP will continue to support freedom of press: Zardari first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ISLAMABAD: The special Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif on Thursday has returned to Pakistan after completing its inquiry in Kenya and UAE, ARY News reported.

Senior journalist and former ARY News anchor was killed in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.

On December 8, the federal government formed a new special joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif with the Supreme Court (SC).

The new JIT includes members from ISI, IB, FIA and the Islamabad police. The members include DIG Intelligence Branch, Sajid Kiyani, FIA’s Waqarauddin Syed, DIG Headquarters, Owais Ahmed, Murtaza Afzal from the Military Intelligence and Muhammad Aslam from the ISI.

The five-member JIT members were in Kenya and UAE to probe the murder of a senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. The members collected the details about the contacts made by the senior journalist during his last days.

The committee is expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court next week.

Source: ARY 

The post Arshad Sharif Murder: JIT Members return Pakistan after inquiry first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ATTEMPTS to police the internet by states, often by giving opaque justifications for the action, are never a good idea. It should be recalled that this nation was deprived of YouTube in 2012 for three years after a crude anti-Islam film was uploaded on the platform. The video-sharing giant has also been blocked briefly more recently to prevent livestreaming of PTI rallies. However, the latest global portal to fall foul of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is Wikipedia, the free, editable online encyclopaedia often used as a starting point by millions across the world for basic information. The PTA has slowed down access to the site in Pakistan apparently because it failed to “block/remove sacrilegious content”. The regulator says Wikipedia has neither responded to its requests, nor taken down the content in question. Furthermore, it has threatened to block Wikipedia across Pakistan in case of non-compliance.

The fact is that the internet is a very difficult place to police, while questions about citizens’ rights to information also arise if states start blocking entire web portals or apps. Unfortunately, some platforms are used to upload content that breaks local laws or is designed to inflame passions. The best course may be to ignore such random provocations, instead of giving them more prominence. However, if there is serious incitement to hatred or violence, action can be taken by working with the platforms to single out such content and isolate it. Shutting down entire portals should be avoided. The state needs to reconsider its threat to ban Wikipedia. Pakistan has much bigger things on its plate to worry about than a few provocative articles on Wikipedia. Moreover, blocking sites does not do much to encourage the growth of the digital economy in the country. Fair questions also arise about the arbitrariness of such decisions. Under the guise of blocking ‘offensive’ content, the state can easily silence critics, while preventing free access to information.

Source: Dawn 

(Editorial)

The post Wikipedia ‘downgrade’ first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Islamabad: Member states of United Nations Human Rights Council recommended Pakistan to strengthen human rights intuitions, protect the rights of vulnerable groups, abolish capital punishment, sign the international convention on enforced disappearance and investigates all reports of intimidation and violence against journalists and human rights defenders.

The recommendations were made in the Pakistan’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the 42nd session of UPR Working Group in the UN Human Rights Council held on Monday.

The session was live screened at an event organised jointly by National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) and Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR).

The live screening was held in the presence of prominent civil society activists, diplomats, journalists, students and government representatives. To maximise social media outreach of the session, the event also featured live tweeting with a hashtag #UPRPak besides providing a space for informal discussions among relevant stakeholders. A simultaneous screening event also took place in Lahore.

In addition to that, the participants also expressed their opinion through posters inscribed with emojis of smile and tied lips, and signs such as ‘Danger: High Voltage’ and ‘Just Do It’, etc. Participants displayed posters of ‘Danger: High Voltage’ and started hooting in response to comments from Indian delegate. The public interest in the process resulted in the hashtag #UPRPak trending on the twitter at the end of the session.

Chairperson of the NCHR, Rabiya Javeri Agha opened the live screening event with a keynote address. She briefed the participants about the country’s international human rights obligations and the value of the UPR review process for promotion and protection of human rights. “Struggling with the advancement of human rights in Pakistan is a bit like playing snakes and ladders because sometimes we take two steps forward and go one step back,” she said.

Her speech was followed by remarks from MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz. She said that Pakistan’s Parliament has a history of raising voice for vulnerable. “Pakistan is one of the four countries with the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights,” she added.

In a three and a half hours UPR session, Pakistan was given 30 minutes to explain progress it has made in realising human rights since the last review. The presentation was followed by 140 minutes of Human Rights Council member states making recommendations and asking questions. The sessions ended with another 40 minutes given to Pakistan for answering the questions and addressing issues raised during the session and making the final comments. All the recommendations from states would be presented to Pakistan one months after the session.

From Pakistan’s side, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabanni Khar presented Pakistan’s case in her usual comprehensive and articulate manner, stating that human rights lie deep in the foundation of Pakistan and appreciating the UPR process. She was joined by Senator Walid Iqbal and Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Ali Raza Bhutta.

The Pakistani delegation briefed the member states about the legal and institutional measures taken by the Pakistani government for promotion and protection of human rights. State Minister said that Pakistani government and the Parliament is committed of safeguarding the human rights of the people of Pakistan. She said that Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights functions under Paris Principles of Independence and all human rights institutions in Pakistan are headed by women. She said that human rights management system has helped the government craft an evidence-based policy and implement treaty body reports.

Delegates from different countries commended Pakistan for their efforts of ensuring human rights despite COVID19 and devastating floods. They congratulated Pakistan for passing Anti-Torture Bill. They recommended Pakistan for adapting mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change issues.

The delegates urged Pakistan on shifting more focus towards SDGs; abolishing capital punishment; ensure protection of the rights of minorities women, children and juvenile; sign the international convention on enforced disappearance; strengthen national institutions on human rights; enact domestic violence bill, ensure registration and safety of women voters; and investigates all reports of intimidation and violence against journalists and human rights defenders.

At the end, State Minister Hina Rabbani Khar thanked all the delegates and expressed how much Pakistan has benefitted from the UPR. She listed the policies, laws, mechanisms, and institutions formulated to address the issues raised by the member states.

Having signed and ratified seven of the nine core UN human rights treaties, Pakistan has undertaken a wide range of human rights obligations to its people. The UPR serves as a peer-review mechanism wherein other states provide recommendations to the state under review on how to improve its human rights situation.

The 42nd Session of the UPR Working Group saw Pakistan reviewed for the fourth time on the 30th of January, 2023. Pakistan’s third UPR in 2017 saw it receiving 298 recommendations from various UN Member States, out of which it accepted 168 – a marked improvement from the 2nd cycle when it rejected 7 out of 166 recommendations.

The post Live screening of Pakistan’s UPR session first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued notices to respondents in a case regarding legislation for the protection of journalists’ rights.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the cases filed by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA).

At the outset of the hearing, the chief justice asked whether there was any progress regarding legislation for the protection of journalists’ rights as the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) chairman had been making efforts in that regard.

Umar Ijaz Gilani Advocate informed the court that the draft bill had been sent to the Information Ministry.

On this, the chief justice remarked that the ITNE was working for the rights of newspapers’ employees and even its chairman had also prepared a draft bill in that regard.

He observed that he could not understand the laws related to newspapers. The lawyer said the ITNE comprised only a chairman and now the concept of members and benches was also being introduced.

CJ Aamer Farooq said the government should realize the things and even it was better if the Parliament passed the legislation in that regard.

To a court’s query, anchorperson Hamid Mir said he was in favour of the legislation for the journalists of electronic media. Former IHC chief justice Athar Minallah had given him an assignment regarding the “cross-media”, and he had submitted written suggestions in that regard.

The chief justice remarked that there was also an issue of non-payment of journalists’ salaries. The journalists had to make multiple visits to tribunals for even small amounts (owed by their employers), he noted.

Hamid Mir said many journalists even did not have written job proofs. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had been authorized in the law to protect the rights of journalists, he added.

The chief justice said whether there could be any resistance on the matter. Hamid Mir replied that it was possible that the association of media owners might create hurdles in it.

The court asked whether the incumbent government wanted to introduce such legislation. No government should have any objection as it was not a political matter, he added.

The court then issued notices to respondents and adjourned of the case till February 6.

Source: Pakistan Today

The post Islamabad High Court (IHC) issues notices in journalists’ legislation case first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved two crucial bills for the protection of journalists and media workers and making the forced disappearances in the country a criminal offence.

“Today, the (federal) cabinet approved the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill and the Forced or Involuntary Disappearance (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill,” said federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari through her official account on social media website Twitter late on Thursday.

No details of the bills were provided by the minister.

Since no federal cabinet meeting was held on Thursday, the approval of the bills is understood to have been obtained through circular notification.

According to Dr Mazari, the bills will now be tabled before the National Assembly during its next session.

The minister in her tweet thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan over the approval of the bills, saying “the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) delivers on commitments”.

Newspaper: Dawn

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) rejects any attempts to further gag the fundamental right of freedom of expression in the name of preventing defamation and disrespect of the armed forces.

Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) Secretary General Farhatullah Babar in a statement on Wednesday expressed grave concern over a bill moved by a PTI MNA and approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior seeking to amend the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to send anyone to jail for two years with fine Rs 500,000 or both for what has been described as ‘defamation of the army”.

He said Section 500 of the PPC already provides punishment for the defamation of anyone, and the addition of Section 500-A is aimed only at gagging freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution in name of national security. It is not acceptable and will be opposed at every platform he said.

The nation has witnessed enough of how behind the façade of ‘national security’ citizens have disappeared mysteriously, national resources diverted, internment centers set up, ex tribal areas made a no go area, foreign and security policies hijacked and security establishment’s business and commercial empire expanded exponentially.

Section 500-A is liable to be grossly misused in the name of national security as Section 295-C has been misused in the name of religion, he said.

Defence forces working within their constitutional limits are universally admired and do not need any legislation to protect their honor and respect. Similarly no legislation can stop people from questioning those who transgress their limits with impunity, he said.

When contacted, Secretary General of the PPP-P Farhatullah Babar said that the PPP would call up other political parties to enact legislation to bring intelligence agencies under the ambit of law instead of legislating to stifle dissent of fundamental of expression.

Answering a question, he said that the PPP would contact with other political parties to oppose the bill when it would move in the house for passage. He said that the PPP would also strongly oppose the bill if it would be moved in the Upper House of the Parliament (Senate).

Newspaper: Business Recorder

ISLAMABAD—Hamid Mir, senior journalist and host of current affairs show Capital Talk on Geo News has served a legal notice on Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chauhan for terming Prof. Waris Mir, Mir’s father, a traitor.

ISLAMABAD—Hamid Mir, senior journalist and host of current affairs show Capital Talk on Geo News has served a legal notice on Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chauhan for terming Prof. Waris Mir, Mir’s father, a traitor.

According to a notice shared by journalist Azaz Syed on Twitter, Mir was invited by Muhammad Maalik, host of a TV show. He justly commented on the commission report on the sugar scandal, and he praised the present government for such report.

In response, Chauhan gave a statement and termed the elder Mir a traitor.

Hamid Mir on Twitter termed Chauhan’s statement and allegation against his father as false, saying his father had criticized the military operation but did not support Mukti Bahini.

Mir said if his father was a traitor, then why did the government announce an award for him.

Waris Mir died while fighting the Zia regime 33 years ago. In appreciation of his scholarly work, the government of Pakistan decorated him (posthumously) with the highest civil award of the country, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, in 2013.

According to Dawn, the government of Bangladesh had announced highest civil awards for Waris Mir, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Habib Jalib, Malik Ghulam Jillani, Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo and other Pakistani intellectuals, in 2013.

Waris Mir was not the only one to criticize the action in East Pakistan.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and others have also condemned Chauhan’s statement. 

Website: Journalism Pakistan

LAHORE: Senior journalist and Geo News anchor Hamid Mir said Sunday Firdous Ashiq Awan and Jehangir Tareen lacked courage to criticise Prime Minister Imran Khan and, instead, they had made his Principal Secretary Azam Khan a scapegoat.

Speaking in Geo News programme Naya Pakistan, Mir said over two dozen people belonging to Firdous’s constituency were recruited in the PID. When the PM learnt about this, he ordered removal of those recruited against rules. Mir rejected Tareen’s contention that he had issues with Azam Khan as he acted as directed by the prime minister. Mir said Firdous’s claim about interference in her ministry was also not right, adding that the PM sacked Yousuf Baig and Iftikhar Durrani was because of her, and now she wanted Shahbaz Gul removed.

Hamid Mir said that if somebody removed by the PM accepts removal, the PM accommodates such a person in some other capacity. Mir cited example of Gul example who after his removal from CM’s office did not criticize the chief minister. Gul was rather promoted when he was moved to the PM’s House. Firdous would not be able to gain any position through attack on Azam Khan or blackmail, Mir added.

Reacting to Mir’s analysis, Firdous in her tweet asked Mir to produce the domicile of those recruited from her constituency. Otherwise, she told Mir, what Maulana Tariq Jameel was saying would have to be accepted.

Newspaper: The News