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PTI says critical media coverage may be 'treason'
The ruling party has linking critical coverage by the press to potential “treason” in its latest broadside against the country's beleaguered media.
The official account of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) fired off over two dozen tweets in English and Urdu late Tuesday, lambasting the press for criticism, saying it can be deemed “Anti-State”.
“Freedom of Expression is beauty of Democracy. Expressing Enemy's Stance is Not Freedom of speech but treason against its people,” read one tweet.
“Media houses & journalists must take care that in their quest for criticism on State, they intentionally or unintentionally do not end up propagating enemy's stance,” read another, with the hashtag JournalismNotAgenda.
Pakistan routinely ranks among the world's most dangerous countries for media workers, and reporters have frequently been detained, beaten and even killed for being critical of the government or military.
In recent years, the space for dissent has shrunk further, with the government announcing a crackdown on social networks and traditional media houses decrying pressure from authorities that they say has resulted in widespread self-censorship.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders recently warned of “disturbing dictatorial tendencies” after three Pakistani TV stations were briefly taken off air in what it called “brazen censorship”.
The Committee to Protect Journalists last year warned that the military had “quietly, but effectively, set restrictions on reporting”.
The government has defended its record, and last week Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a media freedom conference in London that there was “no question of gagging” journalists after being challenged on his country's record.
Among other tweets, the PTI also warned that the media was a “powerful tool of depicting the positive image of our country. Anti-State actions not only impact the credibility of our journalism community but also sends out a wrong message to the world”.
Comments (60) Closed
The PTI is redefining the word treason. Going forward maybe even reporting on economic conditions will require a rosy picture.
PTI days are numbered... They can't handle the government.
That means what ever atrocities done by the PTI, the press should keep queit. Tabdeeli.
Will have to agree with the government on this. Giving media coverage to convicted criminals in the name of democratic freedom is quite unfortunate. It's like inviting Al Capone on CNN for him to plead his case
PTI says critical media coverage may be 'treason'. ... That is nonsense. Imran Khan had better tread very carefully.
PTI government doesn't need any external foes; their policies are sufficient to derail its agenda sooner or later!
Wow, what monstrosity have I voted for? If I knew they would be like this, I would have voted for some other party
@JustWasif, Wait for 35 Years, then, if PTI Leadership do the same like your leadership did, then of course, we will support your idea and dream, but NOT now.
PTI likes to be Judge Jury & Executioner. Perfect IK's Democracy by majority mob rule. Pakistan is a Republic governed by laws not mob.
Expected tabdeeli. According to PTI criticism is good only when done for others.
Selected want selected media
What are they talking about!!!
PTI government doesn't want it's ugly face to be shown to public. That's why there is crack down on media.
This is strangely Orwellian but not surprising, since the uncles who selected this government are a product of the politics of 1980s and 1990s. This only shows how completely out of touch with reality and outdated they are. I thoroughly regret voting for PTI.
Kingdom of naya Pakistan!
Strongly disagree. However, I support responsible reporting to say the least.
Whats wrong with that?you can name all media houses who all are taking sides and not showing reality or good happenings.
So sad PTI only has these tactics to survive their govt Zero performance only shutting media down
What else can they say at this crucial juncture in time and history?
Pakistanis were the only ones who did not see this coming!
Asking food, education and healthcare for citizens is not treason.
Remember envelopes for so-called journalists. Do not put your interest ahead of State interest. Do not play in enemy hands for few pennies.
Your enemy could also be right !!!
Finally cat is out of the bag?
Go ahead. This is what exactly the "Enemy" wants: for Pakistan itself to show the world what kind of a state it is. And increase the defence budget too so that when push comes to shove... well, there won't be any need to shove.
Imran Khan has been trying hard to conserve the conspiracy by plagiarizing the conspiracy by using conspiracies in various ways by using conspiracies in the form of democracy and corruption of various types of unreal false promises. For its ineptness, the economy is also working out of power and from within.
Trump says the same.
@SSAR, Al capone was given coverage by the media at that time.
That makes sense now.
All countries allows state criticism why not Pakistan?
Plus if required to provide phone number and city for entering discussions, readers will no longer be safe from 'treason'.
The most irresponsible, lowest on merit in education and sold out poor journalists of Pakistan. They can go to any extent.
SHAMEFUL
Another Niazi after 50 years! Government criticism is treason? After one year of rapid decline n mismanagement, probably that's the only thing left to do.
@Ali S, We regret too !!
If free speech can be equated with treason, then it is time to keep your silence or get out.
Like the leader so is Pti, lack of tolerance... Bad luck to Pakistan, this tabdeeli is turning into nightmare for Pakistan. Pti and its leader focus is in media tweets, other than running the country and the mess they have created....
Good job IK.
Disturbing... Troubling... Khan must provide clarity and leadership!
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
PTI curbs press freedom under guise of democracy. The famous English novelist George Orwell said, “Freedom of the press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.” Freedom of the press is considered vital for strengthening democracy and pointing out the flaws in the system.
In Pakistan, the journey for the press has always been a difficult one. From Ayub Khan to Pervez Musharraf and then the transitional face of democracy, when first the Pakistan Peoples Party and then the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ruled, there have been invisible curbs on the freedom of press. We saw how journalists who did not buy self-created “patriotic” ideologies were termed traitors and accused of taking bribes from external hands. Since PTI assumed power, curbs on freedom of press and expression have been imposed on a large scale. Recently 21 news channels were issued notices by the PEMRA and three were taken off air without being given the opportunity to plead their case.
Under the current international political situation where cyber warfare is taking hold by disseminating propaganda and misconceptions so as to acheime the aims of the power deploying such tools, it is very important for the media to be put into specific guidelines. In our case, where lifafa journalism is very rampant, it is so much more necessary.
If you want to become a strongman. Please remember the end of strongmen is never good.
If this precedence of curbing the freedom of expression and dissent is set, then it will eventually haunt PTI itself, as times change very quickly in the power corridors.
Protesting on containers locking down the city was fine but this is treason? PTI cursed the govt openly but now doesn't want anything said against them?
Pakistani media is one of the most corrupt institutions
This is what is meant by Naya Pakistan.
@JustWasif, They have done a superb job. They are weeding out the 5th generation cyber war moles hired by the enemy to demoralize and spread misinformation.
Excellent strategy by PMIK otherwise all these media keep publishing without and restrictions. PMIK has strategically reined in the press army and agencies. Another greatl leader in the making. The lion of Pakistan.
The minority of capable journalists ought to take this analysis of PTI in stride and convince their not so capable comrades to do the same. It's media's responsibility to bring an air of trust and solidarity in the country. Right now, the media is falling short of this goal!
This article is so misleading. That's not what pti tweeted. I encourage everyone to read the actual tweets. Media houses have become cesspools of vested interests.
Yeah exactly JournalismNotAgenda ,if you called it freedom of speech then why you are interfering in the freedom of common man perception. Its true most of journalists doing black jobs & have black money so why they act like antistate in the blow of ongoing accountability. Freedom of speech in a wise way. Freedom of speech in limit.
Time to rein in our out of control media...
Every body is talking about self interest only. Media want continuous supply of 'lifafas'. Traders want unhindered old ways of massive tax theft. Local shop keepers sell on their own things at double rates while blaming Khan. Thieves are running propaganda machine day n night to escape accountability. Poor people for whom Khan is taking biggest risks are being misled by charlatan plunderers. PM Khan must be strengthened as we cannot afford hypocrisy and the old policy of aloofness at this crucial time.
Pakistan never enjoyed freedom of expression, there always has been control of the state throughout our history.
not the fault of the pti gobernment but the ones running them from behind the curtains.
@Anonymous - yes you are 100% correct, I never thought of that - be careful guys!
If we can trust the pti to run the affairs of government on our behalf,then perhaps they need to calm down a little and realize that journalists in Pakistan are, as if not more, patriotic as some members of the powers that be.
Its better simply they should say Whoever oppose PTI policies shall be held for treason.
@Ash Man , well said. In accordance to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Right to which Pakistan, as member country, is also a signatory, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” But of course, the freedom of speech is not limitless and accordingly must be within well defined boundaries of upholding integrity of country’s constitution, sovereignty, and its three basic institutions.
@Gordon D. Walker, Isn't it what he is doing and providing?