The year 2021 was a disastrous year for the state of freedom of expression in Pakistan-- characterized by official repressions and consequent resistance from the media and civil society. The year marked a consistent policy of curbing the media’s ability to perform its duties professionally, rising attacks on journalists and attempts to expand censorship online.

The government tried its best to push through the controversial Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) aimed at centralized regulation of all kinds of media and the media landscape was squeezed economically. According to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which represents the country’s 20,000 journalists, thousands of media practitioners lost their jobs.

The singular obsession with the media was marked by attempts to conduct the regulation of content produced by all types of media, including print, television, radio, digital and social media – and even cinema and publication of books. A ‘media court’ was proposed to try journalists and content producers for violations, with jail terms and steep fines for those convicted.

Journalists and other media practitioners were in an uproar and civil society including rights groups and political parties from across the country joined hands to resist PMDA from coming to fruition. International media watchdogs including Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also denounced PMDA saying it would severely undermine freedom of expression and independent journalism by serving as a ‘one window operation’ to control public interest narratives.

"Many legislators, including some ruling party members, bitterly opposed the PMDA as the most draconian tool since General Ziaul Haq’s oppressive martial law regime in the 1980’s."

Adnan Rehmat

Many legislators, including some ruling party members, bitterly opposed the PMDA as the most draconian tool since General Ziaul Haq’s oppressive martial law regime in the 1980’s and a bid to control the media as it expands its remit to a real-time, 24/7 digital milieu. Both the standing committees of National Assembly and the Senate managed to prevent PMDA from being tabled.

In October, the government changed tack. The technology and telecom ministry issued the “Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content” regulations giving authorities the right to control and censor any type of message posted on social media platforms. The regulations have been challenged in the Islamabad High Court. The same court is also currently seized with a case involving the highhandedness of authorities in filing cases against journalists for critical online opinions.

RSF’s annual Press Freedom Index 2021 retained Pakistan on the 145th position in a list of 180 countries, making the country one of the worst for practice of independent journalism. Amnesty International said the Pakistani media was facing a “structural attack” by authorities including “applying pressure on independent media houses, their advertisers, their owners and individual journalists to toe the line and not hold power to account. Dissent is being consistently treated like a crime.”

About the only bright spot for Pakistan in 2021 was the passage of laws on the safety of journalists, first by Sindh province and then by the federal government, which should help reduce endemic levels of violence that have seen over 150 journalists murdered since 2000 without anyone punished. However, the federal law seems to contradict its own mandate of protection through its Clause 6 to prequalify for protection only after proving that any threats due to journalism were the result of ‘good faith journalism.’ Inability to prove this will result in punishment. This renders the law unhelpful and will have to be amended to make protection unconditional.

The incoming year 2022 can be kinder to journalists and media practitioners of Pakistan – as well as everyone who exercises their free speech rights – only through compliance with constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and right to information. And that responsibility starts with the government.

– Adnan Rehmat is a Pakistan-based journalist, researcher and analyst with interests in politics, media, development and science.

Twitter: @adnanrehmat1