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THE security climate for media and rights activists in Pakistan is rapidly deteriorating — and the state appears unable or unwilling to do anything about it. The attack and allegedly failed abduction attempt on Taha Siddiqui, an independent, Islamabad-based journalist, on Wednesday was appalling in its brazenness. According to Mr Siddiqui, he was stopped en route to the airport by unidentified armed men, beaten and threatened to be shot. Mr Siddiqui was fortunate to escape and his version of events has not been refuted with evidence by the authorities or witnesses. The attack is only the latest in a string of deeply troubling events that suggest anti-free speech and anti-democratic forces in the country are growing bolder in their attempts to muzzle media and rights activists. Unless the media forges a united front against such attacks, there are likely to be more incidents — and there can be no guarantee that the level of violence will not escalate. Previous unexplained deaths of journalists and activists are a grim reminder that restraint by murky but powerful forces cannot be expected.
The media itself needs to urgently reconsider its approach to the safety of journalists in the country. Partisan rancour in the media is at a historic high but that does not necessarily pose an existential threat to journalism. In a fiercely divided polity and the age of social media, there are many factors that are contributing to a decline in the quality of independent, fair and truthful journalism by professional media organisations. But when it comes to safety, there should be complete unity. Trite as it may sound, an attack against one journalist is an attack against all journalists. At various points in the country’s history, all forms of independent journalism have been attacked as anti-national, unpatriotic or against the interests of the state. Both media owners and professional journalists of every stripe ought to be concerned by the trajectory of events. A free media is a public good that deserves the strongest protections.
Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2018
Comments (4) Closed
Those powerful forces only capable to use forces against unarmed normal people.
A well balanced and appropriate comment. Attacks on journalists is totally unacceptable, this has to be strongly condemned, Pakistan should not become a police state, if the state or its proxies, or anyone for that matter does not follow laws of the land, how can it expect others to do so? taking law into one's own hand is not something to dwell upon, it is simply unacceptable. To build a healthy society there should be space for descent and opposing view points, one cannot impose their views forcibly on others. One has to accept others and one has live within limits in expressing one's views not to push things beyond limits.
Majority of us today as well as our state are nearly fully enveloped in political similarity. The main results are dumbed-down thinking and increasing polarization. Freedom of expression and debate is the hallmark of strong nations. Anything contrary destroys the human spirit which is a necessary and fundamental element of building a strong and progressive country. Diversity in political opinion leads to better and smarter policy, therefore needs to be encouraged by the state and the civil society. Diversity of views, properly understood, might be our last best hope of repairing our broken politics and depolarizing our society to strengthen the nationhood.
The security situation is terrible for all and that is the reality - journalist have an an advantage that they can easily give space to their plight - it took many rapes and deaths in Kasur for the world to notice - the old case of movies being made is no longer a story. Media must give attention to one point - life, honour and property of all and that includes them - the crest should be ignored - till this is sorted nobody should be given any space.