Imran Khan govt must maintain freedom of articulation, says independent watchdog

Islamabad, Aug 31, Pakistan's Imran Khan-led new government must uphold the freedom of expression as media is facing severe pressure from state institutions in the nation, underlined speakers at the launch of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's (HRCP) certainty discovering report in regards to controls on opportunity of articulation in Pakistan.

Notable speakers and human rights activists talked about the present situation of press which is facing pressure from various parties. In any case, they stayed watchful and hesitant in naming the capable powers attempting to shorten the flexibility of press, said The Nation, a Lahore based daily newspaper.

Conversing with media, activist IA Rehman said that no law prohibits distribution of newspapers or the shutdown of any news channel in any area in the nation, however the media in Pakistan is facing a challenge.

He regretted that the media is being controlled by passing 'press advice' at a senior level, and by separating the journalists' community. "Fear is all over and nobody wants to speak," he told The Nation.

Leader Awami National Party (ANP) and rights lobbyist Afrasiab Khattak said that the press had been facing the situation of a 'creeping coup' in the last four years.

"HRCP report is an eye opener for everybody and it is the duty of all political parties and the civil society to talk about freedom of expression," he said. He also said that the organised campaigns against journalists on social media are condemnable.

Chairperson HRCP Mehdi Hassan said that media is under pressure and new methods are being invented to curb the freedom of electronic, print and social media. "We as a whole know who is behind this, and such suffocation was not felt even during the dictatorial regimes of the country," he told The Nation.

The HRCP chairperson also said that it is the responsibility of the media to inform the people about the pressure it faces from government or its institutions. "Democracy without media is an empty shell," he said.

Pakistan People's Party leader Farhatullah Babar said that the media has adopted self censorship and different genuine incidents have not been accounted for by nearby media in the nation in light of weight on them.

He emphasised that civil society and residents must execute the 'Right to Information' act at its most extreme level. "People who don't need responsibility are behind controling the opportunity of press," he said.

Senior writer M. Ziauddin said that journalism in Pakistan is currently facing an unusual situation which was not in any case experienced during PPO (Protection of Pakistan Ordinance). The statement released said that the new government must maintain the flexibility of articulation over the print and communicate media to establish its democratic credentials.