Violation of Freedom of Expression on Print & Electronic Media

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Written by:Mujeeb ur Rehman Khan
Reviewing the developed and civilized countries’ preferences with respect to freedom of expression provided to their citizens and its comparison with prevailing condition in Pakistan is deplorable. Pakistan ranked 142 out of 180 countries according to World Press Freedom Index indicating Pakistani Media under chains and constant threats. The position has become more worsen in the year 2019, when 7 Journalists were murdered, whereas 15 Journalists were injured while performing their duties; on the other hand 60 journalists were booked under Anti-Terrorism Act.
Unfortunately, in all the reported incidents unidentified and mysterious extremists groups were involved comprising non-state actors, organized and armed pressure groups, extremists’ political, religious and ethnic groups. These groups are free to do what so ever they can against their opponents, it is alarming that despite their increasing activities till to date, law enforcing agencies are still helpless to control them and brought to Justice.
No doubt, the Constitution of Pakistan (Article 19) and Universal Declaration of Human Rights ensure freedom of expression and free media but it is a bitter truth that in Pakistan since its inception governments under military and civil rule always uses arms twisting tactics to control press/media against real truth & waves of awareness among masses.
In this connection blatant use of notorious Anti-Terrorism Act, Prevention of Electronic crimes Act 2016, and Pakistan Penal Codes (criminalization) sections including section 11 (dealing with hate speech) section 20 (dealing with defamation) and clause 37 (dealing with prerogative of PTA to block websites) section 9 dealing with glorification of an offense and section 10 dealing with cybercrimes and online harassment of women are very common as a result so far 60 Journalists have been booked across the country, besides attacks on the offices of renowned Newspapers in Karachi & Islamabad by organized angry mobs to demonstrate cut throat environment with respect to freedom of press and expression on Print & Electronic media.
To control the media effectively government proposal for establishing media courts was strongly condemned and resisted by all stake holders. Due to the strong resistance government withdrew this step but introduced a Centralized Policy for giving advertisements to all newspapers and electronic media through Press Information Department Islamabad. This policy also depicts the government desire to control media which is already facing miserable situation due to acute reduction in government spending on advertisements. Consequently until now large numbers of Journalists and work force relating to media lost their jobs.
It is also very unfortunate that government regulatory authority PEMRA continuously issued notices to several TV channels and barred some anchors from offering their exclusive opinions by refraining them of their legitimate right of speech and freedom of expression. Remember Press/media play the role of eyes/ears of society such types of negative tactics of twisting the arm of Press & Media only reflect very negative impact on developed and civilized nations indicating the same behavior of Ostrich who is used to hide his face under the sand in case of any risk instead of facing risk or reality.

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