TODAY, Nov 2, is observed worldwide as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. It is a day when attention turns to the extreme pressures and injustices journalists face in the line of duty. The context in which it will be observed this year in Pakistan is quite grim.
On the eve of the occasion, Absar Alam, former chief of the country’s electronic media regulator, made a damning statement before the Supreme Court alleging that a senior ISI officer, as well as his subordinates, attempted to control and coerce the media through Pemra during Mr Alam’s tenure.
The tactics employed included reducing the visibility of TV channels that refused to toe the state’s line and seeking penalties against TV commentators who were critical of the state.
There are many in the industry who will attest to the fact that the climate of repression that prevailed during retired Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed’s time at ISI’s helm was one of the worst experienced by Pakistani media. The former spy chief gained notoriety for pressuring Pakistani media in ways never seen or heard before, including with direct threats.
His methods were unusually brutish. At one point, he vowed to ‘destroy’ this publication and made good on that threat by blocking Dawn’s circulation and advertisements.
Access to Dawn’s sister television channel, DawnNews, was repeatedly disrupted in connivance with cable operators across the country. Other news outlets, such as Geo News, faced persecution in very similar ways.
The financial consequences for ordinary journalists working in these organisations were immense and painful to bear. Unfortunately, Gen Hameed’s tactics seem to have found enduring favour under the present regime as well.
All of the Pakistani media’s challenges can obviously not be attributed to one individual or institution. The government’s lack of commitment to journalists’ protection deserves equal blame.
Though Pakistan became the first country to enact laws for the protection of journalists under the PTI, the Freedom Network noted this week that it has failed to mitigate the prevalence of crimes against journalists despite doing so.
Eleven journalists have been slain since the law was passed, while journalists continue to face kidnapping, physical assault and harassment through legal cases. The data available shows that no place in the country is safe for journalists anymore — not even the federal capital.
Everywhere, journalists are being targeted for their work with impunity. No murder or disappearance seems to be adequately investigated, and the perpetrators are, therefore, never brought to book. This culture of impunity is what allows the cycle of violence to repeat itself.
It is unlikely to stop till the federal and provincial governments provide more means and resources to the various bodies set up to look after journalists’ rights and protect them from violence. They must act now.
Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2023
