Over 200 journalists targeted in Pakistan amid media crackdown, 4 killed

Over the past year, there have been substantial losses for Media Freedom in Pakistan, particularly through “state-driven intimidation” and “predatory actions by some non-state actors,”. This resulted in legal notices targeting over 200 journalists and bloggers, as reported by Dawn. 

The study, “Erosion of Free Speech: The Silencing of Citizens, Political Parties, and Media,” examines a troubling pattern of an increase in state-driven intimidation and predatory behaviour by non-state actors and spans the months of May 2023 to April 20242. Journalists are not the only ones targeted by the crackdown on free expression; political workers have also been targeted, indicating a larger attack on civil freedoms. 

The report observed the reduced tolerance for online dissent by the journalists combined with attacks and harassment against journalists and bloggers. This was coupled with four tragic murders of journalists that gave rise to concern regarding not only free speech but increased risk for press freedom in Pakistan.

Legal Framework of Pakistan

Pakistani law is used to prohibit any criticism of the government and military forces under the pretense of defending journalism. Established in 2002, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is primarily focused on content regulation rather than media industry regulation. Adopted in 2016, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) is mostly used to restrict online free speech rather than combat cybercrime. Regarding the 2021-passed Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, protection is conditional upon reporters engaging in a specific “conduct.” These vague restrictions expose journalists who violate the implied boundaries set by the government to severe administrative and criminal penalties.

Amidst the crackdown, the atmosphere of intimidation has worsened by warnings and actions by high-ranking officials. Over 70 legal notices were sent to media professionals a large number of which came from a “joint investigation team” comprising several government ministries who were tasked to find those who were supposedly conducting a smear campaign against certain judges.

Later the Chief Justice stated that the judiciary was being used to target free expression and that he was not the complainant. During the review period, four journalists lost their lives, two each in Sindh and Punjab (Pakistan). Among the 104 documented cases of violations against media professionals, it included murders, assault, injuries, kidnappings, threats and legal proceedings, as documented by Freedom Network.

Political State

The report mentions “Acute political polarisation and governance and economic instability saw three governments in the one year between May 2023 and April 2024…” The report emphasized that all three government regimes appeared to have cultivated a alarming consensus among their most influential political and state officials to reduce their tolerance towards freedom of expression, especially when it comes to online dissent.    The report also voiced the concern regarding government’s efforts to pass the ‘E- Safety Bill and Personal Data Protection Bill’ in the upcoming weeks.

In July 2023, the federal cabinet of Shehbaz Sharif’s previous administration gave its approval to both. The measures seek to create independent agencies with the authority to punish “posters of content” on social media platforms.

Press Freedom In Pakistan

The report issued a warning that “adverse policy actions, such as the state’s intent to weaponize regulations of online content, particularly social media platforms, including journalistic and social expression, will not only put other Pakistan’s rising digital economy in peril but also institutionalize coercive censorship”, according to Dawn.

Press freedom in Pakistan is in terrible shape; some experts have called it “completely rotten.” The situation for journalists is severe. It is concerning that authorities continue to assault independent media houses, owners, advertisers and individual journalists structurally in order to force them to support the official narrative.

Journalists are subjected to physical attacks, censorship, and the imminent possibility of the PMDA coming into effect, which would further restrict their freedom as journalists, all because dissent is routinely treated like a crime.

As the world observes World Press Freedom Day, the situation in Pakistan serves as a stark reminder of challenges faced by the journalists globally. the resilience of journalists in such adverse conditions shall be commendable. But without concerted efforts to address these issues, the future of Free Press in Pakistan remains uncertain.