JOURNALISTS and media professionals may, perhaps, have been more enthusiastic about the announcement, but the past continues to weigh heavily on the community. The 12-member commission constituted by the government to oversee their protection is, without a doubt, a welcome step, but Pakistani journalists have also witnessed a long history of persecution, often exercised with impunity, that has left many unable to trust such initiatives. They will wait and see whether the newly constituted commission, comprised mainly of leaders and representatives of various journalists’ bodies, can meaningfully change that trajectory. Formed to exercise the powers and functions laid down in the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, the commission will act with the authority of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure when investigating journalists’ complaints against harassment, threats, torture, etc. It is hoped the government will strengthen its hand and give it the breadth it needs to exercise those powers.

It is only fair to point out at this juncture that many past cases, some concerning serious crimes like abduction, torture, harassment and even assassinations of journalists, have still not been closed. Despite efforts by rights activists and the media community, these cases were never investigated or prosecuted with the seriousness they deserved. Until the impression that journalists can be targeted with impunity is dispelled, no commission, no matter how high-powered, can be expected to act as an adequate safeguard against violence targeting journalists and media workers. While this commission has been granted the powers of a civil court, recognising those powers and complying with the commission’s requests for assistance should not be left ‘optional’ for state institutions. It is vital for the health of any society that its media be able to speak truth to power without fear of violent or financially devastating reprisals. The government must commit fully to that principle to be taken seriously.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2025