ISLAMABAD: Journalists, digital rights experts and civil society members on Friday drew the state’s attention to receding civic spaces and democracy in the country.

They were speaking at a national roundtable organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

In a statement issued by the HRCP, law and policy expert Mohammad Aftab Alam discussed key aspects of the recently passed Punjab Defamation Act 2024. Pointing out radical changes in definitions of key terms such as ‘broadcasting’, ‘newspaper’ and ‘journalist’, Mr Alam criticised the institution of a parallel judicial system under the law and imposition of the burden of proof on defendants.

Journalist and researcher Adnan Rehmat said the law exceptionalised political and state elites and legalised discrimination.

HRCP council member Farhatullah Babar said the law was yet another step towards ‘militarisation’ of the state and society, adding that it was tantamount to overwriting other laws, such as those governing the right to information.

Co-founder Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD) Sadaf Khan discussed the speculations surrounding the government’s plans to install a national firewall and said this would broaden the scope of censorship by monitoring Internet traffic.

“It was an ill-thought plan that bred fear and mistrust,” she said.

MMFD founder Asad Baig said such a move would have a serious economic impact on freelance work and online trading.

Academic and journalist Tauseef Ahmed Khan traced the history of censorship and proposed a plan of action. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists president Afzal Butt emphasised accountability of social media platforms blocking content on Kashmir and Gaza.

Former senator Afrasiab Khattak said the establishment must be held accountable for its alleged continuous overreach in such matters while senior journalist Sohail Sangi said the working conditions of mediapersons and press freedom were closely linked.

The participants recommended repealing the Punjab Defamation Act at once, adding that ‘digital rights should be recognised in the Constitution’. The conversation on amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 should also be revived.

HRCP co-chair Munizae Jahangir urged unity among journalists, lawyers and activists to consolidate their demands before the parliament. HRCP Islamabad vice-chair Nasreen Azhar stressed that activists must be more organised in countering online disinformation.

HRCP Secretary General Harris Khalique concluded by highlighting that an anti-poor political agenda was being propagated.

“A nexus between the political leadership, big business and the state establishment is apparent,” he said, adding that to combat such repressive tactics, all rights-based movements must unite to present a cohesive charter of demands before the parliament.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2024