146 Final Project

Pakistan, a country developing with numerous social, economic, political, and security challenges, is not insulated to the influence of the modern world’s media (Hussain, 2012). The Pakistani media has become more open and proactive in highlighting social, economic, and political issues in the country. It has also become a strong medium for scrutinizing the functioning of state institutions and taking over the task of policy-making, rather than just offering policy options to the government (Hussain, 2012). Although media freedom and independence have increased, there are still many obstacles and dangers for journalists in the nation. The nation’s media has historically been subject to strict regulation, and journalists have experienced censorship, assault, and threats (Human Rights Watch, 2021) However, the emergence of independent media outlets and social media in recent years has increased public discourse and the freedom of expression. The rise of social media has also given citizens a platform to express their thoughts and hold the government responsible, increasing government action transparency. Despite constitutional protections for press and speech freedom, there are still significant obstacles for the nation’s media, including censorship, violence, and intimidation (2021). Journalists are subject to intimidation, threats, and violence from a variety of groups, including militant organizations, political parties, and state actors.

Media outlets have been reluctant to report on sensitive matters that could enrage the government, and the government has used advertising money as leverage to influence media coverage. In recent years, a number of journalists have died, and many more have been attacked, kidnapped, or harassed (2021). Because no one is being held accountable for these crimes, there is now a culture of impunity where people who hurt journalists may do so without worrying about facing consequences.

In the article, “Pakistan’s Press Enters a Dark Era,” discusses recent events in Pakistan that demonstrate the difficulties that the press and journalists in that nation confront. When journalist Asad Ali Toor was attacked at home, television host Hamid Mir accused Pakistan’s military forces of repressing the press (Kugelman, 2021). Although the Pakistani press has a history of publishing articles that are critical of elected people, it is strictly forbidden to criticize the military and intelligence agencies. Many journalists and outlets now self-censor due to intimidation strategies including withholding advertising money and running hate campaigns on social media ((Kugelman, 2021). Outlets that disregarded warnings had their distribution halted or taken off the air. Pakistan has a thriving press, yet press freedom is nevertheless a valuable and increasingly endangered resource.

According to a report by Freedom Network, a media watchdog, 33 journalists were killed in Pakistan between 2013 and 2019 for their work. (Kugelman, 2021). Although the number of deadly attacks on journalists has decreased in recent years, assaults on journalists continue even in relatively safe areas like Islamabad. (Kugelman, 2021). Pakistan’s press freedom rankings have also declined, falling six places to 145th in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index since Prime Minister Imran Khan took office in 2018. (Ahmed, 2022). This trend of declining press freedom is not unique to Pakistan, with neighboring countries like India ranking 142 and Bangladesh ranking 152 on the same index. (Kugelman, 2021). This decline in press freedom is occurring against a broader crackdown on dissent that targets activists, scholars, and non-governmental organizations. (Kugelman, 2021).

The attacks against journalists and anyone who criticize the government are sometimes not thoroughly investigated, and many people believe the military and intelligence agencies were involved. Journalists and social media users have been targeted in India and Bangladesh as part of this pattern of state-led efforts to stifle dissent (Kugelman, 2021). In recent years, opposition has been harshly suppressed and press freedom has severely declined in these nations. The Pakistani government is using a 2016 cybercrime law to target anti-government content online, and a new bill may worsen the situation for journalists by centralizing government oversight and increasing dependence on the state (Kugelman, 2021). The media oversight bill could turn media outlets into state mouthpieces, and under Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan’s press freedom looks to deteriorate further.

Additionally, the economic pressure faced by the television news industry in the country, which has also been experienced by print media since the rise of independent television news (Ahmed, 2022). The lack of a sustainable business model and overreliance on government for advertisement are some of the reasons attributed to the recent economic pressure faced by the media (Ahmed, 2022). The real challenge for traditional media such as print, radio, and television is adapting to the needs of the digital age without compromising on journalistic ethics and integrity.

However, in the last few years local journalism has changed and evolved. The Great Conversation, which is broadcast nationally during primetime, has become an important platform for conducting state business (Rehman, 2015). While print media has maintained its influence by sending different signals in different languages, the rise of DotCom and social media has provided a larger audience for various editorial services, leading to controversies and power struggles in the Pakistani polity (Rehman, 2015). The media landscape in Pakistan is also fraught with insecurity, with journalists becoming high-profile targets for those seeking to settle scores or make statements (Rehman, 2015). In this context, Pakistani media is both exciting and challenging to navigate.

Some areas include the dangerous conditions faced by journalists in Pakistan, particularly in the western regions such as Balochistan and the tribal areas (Rehman, 2015). The divide between east and west Pakistan is breached and journalists without political protection are able to report freely in these regions, the violence against journalists will continue (Rehman, 2015). Violence is linked to the wider violence against the people of Pakistan, and that the state must be pressured by a united front of journalists, civil society, and the electorate in order to bridge this gap and improve conditions for journalists in the country (Rehman, 2015).

There are promising aspects to local media, they are also disillusioned with it. Local media has empowered women and minorities, countered terrorism, and supported democracy, but has also empowered establishments both new and old (Rehman, 2015). The industry has become politicized and associated with corruption, nepotism, misogyny, and conflicts of interest.

Journalism safety concerns have been a matter of great significance, and civil society’s role in advocating for journalists’ safety cannot be ignored. International Media Support (IMS), based in Denmark, is working with local partners to improve safety conditions for journalists in Pakistan through an extensive three-year project (Baig, 2011). A recent conference organized by Intermedia and PFUJ in Islamabad has brought together media houses, managers, practitioners, and representatives of media development organizations to build consensus on safety protocols. The proposed bill for journalists’ safety will be presented in Parliament by the interior minister, and IMS is planning to hold activities to ensure the implementation of the “Declaration of Safety” (Baig, 2011). A coalition of national and international civil society organizations, along with media houses, journalist unions, and practitioners, could take a significant first step towards creating a safe environment for free journalism in Pakistan.

In conclusion, Pakistan’s media landscape is complex, with journalists facing various challenges in carrying out their work. Despite constitutional protections for freedom of the press and speech, there are still significant obstacles to press freedom in the country. Journalists are subject to censorship, violence, intimidation, and even death. The government’s use of advertising money as leverage to influence media coverage is a significant obstacle, and the rise of social media has led to hate campaigns and self-censorship by media outlets. The economic pressure faced by the media industry is also a challenge, and adapting to the needs of the digital age without compromising on journalistic ethics and integrity is crucial. However, despite these challenges, the media in Pakistan has become more open and proactive in highlighting social, economic, and political issues in the country. The emergence of independent media outlets and social media has increased public discourse and the freedom of expression, holding the government responsible and increasing government action transparency. As the country navigates its social, economic, and political challenges, it is essential that journalists are able to carry out their work freely and without fear of violence or intimidation.

References:

Pakistan: Escalating attacks on journalists. Human Rights Watch. (2021, June 3). Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/06/03/pakistan-escalating-attacks-journalists

Ahmed, U. (2022, May 12). Pakistan drops 12 points on World Press Freedom Index 2022. Global Voices. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://globalvoices.org/2022/05/12/pakistan-drops-12-points-on-world-press-freedom-index-2022/

Rehman, S. (2015, June 25). Journalism in Pakistan. – The Diplomat. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://thediplomat.com/2015/06/journalism-in-pakistan/

Baig, A. K. (n.d.). How to protect journalists in Pakistan. Open Society Foundations. Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/how-protect-journalists-pakistan