PAKISTAN MEDIA MONITOR – May 2023
A monthly report on trends relating to state of journalism and media rights, policies and practices
Tracking:
Media related laws, policies and regulations
The state of media professionalisms
The state of media economy
Threats and attacks against journalists and information practitioners
Vol. 3, No. 5 – May 2023 Edition
Produced by Freedom Network – www.fnpk.org
SECTION 1: Media related laws, policies, regulations, mechanisms
- Freedom of expression (FOE)
- Right to information (RTI), access to information (ATI)
- Federal and provincial governments (relevant ministries and departments)
- Media related regulators (PPC, PEMRA, PTA)
- Regulatory issues related to print, electronic and digital media
Punjab Information Commission orders ACE to disclose inquiry reports and FIRs
Date: May 2, 2023 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Punjab Information Commission (PIC) directed the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of Multan to provide copies of complaints and closed inquiries as requested by an applicant, considering the documents as public information.
Balochistan government to notify information commission
Date: May 8, 2023 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Balochistan Express, Source 3: The Quetta Voice
While information commissions exist at federal level and three provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, Balochistan Information Secretary Hamza Shafqaat revealed that the provincial government would notify the information commission soon.
SECTION 2: The state of media professionalisms
- Media independence issues
- Public interest journalism practices and challenges
- Ethical journalism issues
- The state of thematic journalism
- Community-focused media
- Misinformation / disinformation / fake news
Pakistan Television launches PTVFlix: Pakistan’s answer to Netflix
Date: May 3, 2023 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) launched a new video streaming platform, PTVFlix, with an extensive library of programs that aims to compete with streaming giant Netflix in the Pakistani online viewership market.
Painting exhibition reflects work of women journalists
Date: May 5, 2023 – Source: The News
A one-day painting exhibition depicting the work of women journalists in Pakistan was organized in Islamabad by PeaceFlix in collaboration with Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).
Date: May 7, 2023 – Source: The News
National media, mainly perceived to be the electronic media or television news channels, informs its audience relatively well but educates less. It should cut drastically on political shows. A different mix of perspective and amusement and educational value is needed for the programming to stay relevant.
Date: May 7, 2023 – Source: The News
There is a growing impression that impartiality is irrelevant to modern-day journalism in Pakistan. The biggest challenge ignored by most is ensuring the media’s neutrality. This is impossible without a commitment on part of the state to ensure that journalists enjoy personal safety and job security.
Can profit-driven media sustain quality journalism?
Date: May 14, 2023 – Source: Dawn
Journalists must return to their core job, which is reporting fairly on issues they deem fit, focusing on local over national issues, and ensuring all communities are represented accurately. This will help them regain their credibility.
PEMRA warns channel over ‘inappropriate content’
Date: May 28, 2023 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued an official warning to a private television channel for airing ‘inappropriate scenes’ in its entertainment serial ‘Tere Bin’.
SECTION 3: The state of media economy
- Economic landscape of media industry
- Impact of Covid-19 on media resilience and sustainability
- Government and private advertising for media industry
- Advertising sector and its interface with media industry
- Business viability and sustainability of media
- Wages, salaries and arrears of journalists and media practitioners
Independent journalism and money matters
Date: May 7, 2023 – Source: The News
News media entities need to sustain and grow as independent businesses. Like all other businesses, they are dependent on the policies made and implemented by the governments – the very entities news media is tasked to watchdog – especially when the governments are among the largest advertisers.
SECTION 4: Threats and attacks against media and information practitioners, including online
- Murders and killings
- Kidnappings and abductions
- Arrests and detentions
- Threats – verbal and written
- Harassment and intimidation – offline and online
- Surveillance, hacking and data breaches
- Legal cases for journalism-related work or free speech
- Impunity of crimes against journalists
- Censorship
Freedom Network report: Threats, attacks on journalists in Pakistan jump by 60pc
Date: May 1, 2023 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Freedom Network (FN)
Pakistan is counted among the world’s most dangerous for journalists. Incidents of press freedom violations, which include threats, arrests and attacks against journalists and media practioners, saw a 63 per cent increase over the last one year, according to a report published by Freedom Network (FN).
Date: May 1, 2023 – Source: Dawn
Regulators in Pakistan impose arbitrary standards on speech and expression, particularly in print, electronic and digital media. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) continues to ban media coverage of incidents of terrorist attacks and rape.
CPJ, 14 organizations call on Kenyan authorities to expedite Arshad Sharif murder investigation
Date: May 2, 2023 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and 14 other media organizations issued a joint-statement urging Kenyan authorities to expedite their investigation into the murder of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.
Cases registered by journalists in 2023 decrease by 90pc in Islamabad
Date: May 2, 2023 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Pakistan Observer (PO)
According to data released by the Islamabad Police (IP), cases registered by journalists in the federal capital decreased by 90 per cent in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Balochistan: A minefield for journalists
Date: May 23, 2023 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
If journalism is a dangerous profession in Pakistan, nowhere do journalists have to navigate the kind of multi-dimensional threat landscape as they do in Balochistan. Media practioners continue to face enforced disappearances, public humiliation and life threats.
Politicians laud media for standing by democracy
Date: May 3, 2023 – Source: Dawn
In recognition of the World Press Freedom Day, political leaders paid tribute to media practitioners for performing their duties in a professional manner and standing by democratic values in challenging environments.
Tribal journalists continue to face threats despite merger
Date: May 3, 2023 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Extension of almost all regular laws to the merged districts after the region’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018 could not ensure any qualitative change in the nature of reporting in the militancy-affected areas as tribal journalists are still faced with threats and intimidations.
Islamabad emerges as most dangerous city for journalists
Date: May 3, 2023 – Source 1: Freedom Network (FN), Source 2: Republic World (RW)
According to a report published by Freedom Network (FN), Islamabad topped the list of most dangerous places in Pakistan for journalists and media practioners witnessing a 40 per cent increase of incidents in the past one year.
National Assembly pledges to ensure right to free speech
Date: May 4, 2023 – Source 1: National Assembly of Pakistan, Source 2: Dawn
The National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on the World Press Freedom Day, expressing its resolve that the fundamental right of freedom of speech enshrined in the Constitution under Article 19, which is the foundation of freedom of the press, would be upheld.
India drops below Pakistan in press freedom rankings
Date: May 4, 2023 – Source: Dawn
The acquisition of media by wealthy businessmen closely aligned with political leaders and harassment of critical sources and reporters by supporters of the government has led Reporters Without Borders (RSF) to downgrade India’s press freedom ranking.
Pakistan improves ranking on RSF press freedom index
Date: May 4, 2023 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
Pakistan’s ranking improved by seven places in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as the country was placed at the 150th position among 180 countries.
Investigation into Arshad Sharif’s murder under United Nations body demanded
Date: May 4, 2023 – Source: Dawn
Speakers at a seminar at the National Press Club (NPC) demanded that the killers of journalist Arshad Sharif be arrested and the investigation into his murder in Kenya be conducted by a United Nations (UN) fact-finding commission.
World Press Freedom Day marked across Pakistan
Date: May 4, 2023 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune
The World Press Freedom Day was observed across Pakistan with a renewed pledge to protect the fundamental principles of press freedom and defend the med from attacks on their independence.
Minister claims media in Pakistan enjoying complete freedom
Date: May 4, 2023 – Source 1: Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Source 2: Radio Pakistan (RP)
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murriyum Aurungzeb said that the government fully believed in freedom of the media and it would continue to take practical measures to protect journalists and media practitioners.
Call for joint efforts for freedom of press
Date: May 4, 2023 – Source: Express Tribune
Speakers of a moot marking the World Press Freedom Day in Islamabad stressed the need for making efforts to ensure press freedom for a pluralistic society and an enabling environment to enjoy human rights.
Date: May 5, 2023 – Source: Dawn
The debilitating effects on society of the bonhomie between corporate media and the right-wing government have led to India being placed below Pakistan in the 2023 Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Commission calls for expediting probe into abduction of Sukkur journalists
Date: May 5, 2023 – Source: The News
Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners (CJMP) asked the Sindh home secretary and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to expedite the investigation into the kidnapping and torturing of two Sukkur-based journalists and submit a report to the Commission within seven days.
Journalist killed in an assassination attempt in Jhelum
Date: May 5, 2023 – Source 1: Freedom Network (FN), Source 2: The Nation
According to police authorities, Imtiaz Baig, a reporter who worked for Samaa TV, was killed in an assassination attempt by unidentified persons in Jhelum.
Stifling environment for the press: A dim future?
Date: May 7, 2023 – Source: The News
International media watchdog organizations occasionally point to a culture of impunity in Pakistan. It essentially means that state institutions duck responsibility for brutalizing nonconforming journalists. Acts of intimidation against media persons continue to go unchallenged and unaccountable.
Silencing journalists: The many absurd uses of law
Date: May 7, 2023 – Source: The News
The Pakistan Penal Code (PCC) has been used by successive regimes as a major censorship tool to curb free expression. The incumbent regime is no different as it continues to use charges of sedition, criminal defamation and conducting public mischief to intimidate television anchorpersons and journalists.
Imran Khan alleges ISI officer’s involvement in journalist’s killing
Date: May 7, 2023 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan alleged that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer Major-General Faisal Naseer was involved in the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
Arshad Sharif’s killing: SC expresses displeasure over release of initial probe report to media
Date: May 10, 2023 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) expressed displeasure over release to the media of the initial report of a fact-finding committee into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
PFUJ condemns attack on state-run radio and official news agency in Peshawar
Date: May 11, 2023 – Source 1: Radio Pakistan (RP), Source 2: The News
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned an attack by violent protesters on the premises of state-run Radio Pakistan (RP) and office of the official news agency, beating and harassing of journalists and media persons and staffers of both offices in Pakistan.
Punjab police arrests pro-PTI media anchorpersons
Date: May 12, 2023 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Daily Pakistan (DP)
The Punjab police arrested anchorpersons Aftab Iqbal, Imran Riaz Khan and Orya Maqbool Jan amid a crackdown on protesters in Lahore. All three remain staunch supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
Journalists arrested and attacked, media offices set ablaze amid protests
Date: May 12, 2023 – Source 1: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Source 2: Voice of America (VOA)
Amid protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, authorities and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters repeatedly arrested, attacked and harassed journalists and media persons.
CPNE condemns arrest of journalists
Date: May 12, 2023 – Source 1: Express Tribune, Source 2: Daily Times
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) condemned the arrest of anchorpersons Aftab Iqbal and Imran Riaz Khan and noted that attempts to curb freedom of expression cannot be tolerated.
PPF expresses alarm over continued acts of violence against media persons covering protests
Date: May 12, 2023 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) expressed alarm over continued acts of violence against media professionals covering protests by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers.
Journalist injured by dacoits in Sahiwal
Date: May 13, 2023 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Malik Hussnain, an electronic media journalist, was shot at and critically injured as he offered resistance to dacoits trying to snatch his motorcycle in district Dipalpur.
LHC to resume hearing petition against anchorperson’s arrest as his whereabouts remain unknown
Date: May 14, 2023 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Lahore High Court (LHC) will resume hearing a petition seeking the release of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan as the journalist’s whereabouts remain unknown since his ‘arrest’ from outside Sialkot jail.
Lahore High Court orders Sialkot police to present anchorperson in court
Date: May 16, 2023 – Source: Express Tribune
The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed Sialkot’s district police officer (DPO) to find whereabouts of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan and present him before the court within 48 hours. The court passed this order while hearing a petition seeking recovery of the journalist who is reportedly missing.
Journalists’ commission asks Sindh government to release arrested journalist
Date: May 18, 2023 – Source: Freedom Network (FN)
The Sindh Commission on Protection of Journalists (SCPJ) requested the Sindh home secretary to release journalist Nasrullah Gaddani who was arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) with no details regarding any charges made available to the press.
Media watchdogs condemn arrest of freelance journalist
Date: May 18, 2023 – Source: Freedom Network (FN)
Media watchdog Freedom Network (FN) joined the Women Journalists Association (WJA) in condemning the arrest of freelance journalist Anum Sheikh under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Authorities continue to hold journalist under MPO
Date: May 19, 2023 – Source: Dawn
Nasrullah Gadani, a journalist and social media activist, who was detained by police in Mirpur Mathelo under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) was not released despite intervention by the Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Practitioners (CJPM).
Punjab police clueless about missing anchorperson’s whereabouts
Date: May 19, 2023 – Source: Express Tribune
Inspector-General of Punjab Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar appeared ‘clueless’ regarding why their system had failed to locate whereabouts of missing anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan as he struggled to allay concerns raised by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
LHC directs police to recover, present missing anchorperson before court
Date: May 20, 2023 – Source: Dawn
The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed police to recover and present anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan – whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest at the Sialkot airport – before the court.
Journalists reporting May 9 riots face raids
Date: May 22, 2023 – Source: Express Tribune
Journalists performing their duties outside the Jinnah House in Lahore on May 9 are also facing the brunt of a crackdown as raids were conducted to arrest them after their names came up into the lists prepared through geographical-fencing.
Punjab forms committee for protection of journalists
Date: May 23, 2023 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Freedom Network (FN)
Punjab’s caretaker Minister of Information and Culture Amir Mir announced formation of the Punjab Journalists Protection Coordination Committee which will investigate incidents of violence against journalists performing their duties in the province.
LHC restrains police from harassing reporters who were covering violent protests
Date: May 24, 2023 – Source: Dawn
The Lahore High Court (LHC) restrained police from harassing and arresting digital media journalists who covered violent protests in Lahore following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
Alarm over arrest of political activists, journalists
Date: May 24, 2023 – Source: Dawn
Different human rights and civil society organizations expressed concern over mass arrests and arbitrary detention of political activists and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), including anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan, and asked authorities to stop their crackdown.
Date: May 24, 2023 – Source: Dawn
There can be no excuse for the hundreds of multimedia journalists who have been hounded by police just for carrying out their professional duties and covering protests that broke out following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
Journalist allegedly picked up by unidentified persons
Date: May 25, 2023 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Freedom Network (FN)
According to family sources, journalist Sami Abraham was reportedly taken away by unidentified men in Islamabad. It is also claimed that there was no information available about his whereabouts.
OBJECTIVES: This series of monthly report aims to:
- Monitor the state of policies, regulations and mechanisms governing the media sector in Pakistan; the state of freedom of expression and right to information environment in the country and how these interfaces with media freedoms allowed or restricted via media regulations governed by the print, electronic and internet regulators.
- Track the state of media professionalisms in the country including ethical and public interest journalism practices and challenges, and the challenges of misinformation, disinformation and fake news phenomena.
- Follow the changing economic dynamics of the media industry and how they impact the business viability and sustainability of media and exploitation of media staff in lieu of their wages and arrears.
- Scrutinize threats and attacks against media and information practitioners, the state of impunity of crimes against journalists and efforts to provide justice for those aggrieved and distressed.
INFORMATION SOURCES: This report monitors, among others, the following sources of information:
- Government: Federal and provincial cabinets
- Ministries: Related ministries, including Information and Broadcasting, Information Technology (IT) and Telecom, Human Rights, Science and Technology, Commerce and Industry, etc.
- Legislatures: Senate, National Assembly, provincial assemblies, relevant standing committees
- Regulators: Pakistan telecommunications Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Press Council of Pakistan (PPC), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), etc.
- Global organizations: UN/Unesco, International Media Support (IMS), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), etc.
- National organizations: Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), BoloBhi, Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD), Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), etc.
- Media: Dawn, The News, Express Tribune, The Nation, Pakistan Today, The Friday Times, etc.
- Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Local networks: Journalists Safety Hubs Network, Alliance on Diversity & Pluralism in Media, etc.
- Any other open public information sources.
