Press. Voanews.
More than 60
leading journalists, op-ed writers and editors of some major newspapers in
Pakistan have condemned what they said are “the ongoing curbs on freedom of
expression in the country.” “Beginning with a crackdown against select media
groups and banning the broadcast of various channels, there now is enhanced
pressure on all media houses to refrain from covering certain rights-based
movements,” according to a statement obtained by VOA. The government of
Pakistan has not reacted to the statement issued Wednesday.
The transmission
of Pakistan’s most widely watched news channel, Geo, has been blocked in many
parts of the country for almost a month. Government officials and the Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, PEMRA, insist they have not blocked the
news channel. Instead, PEMRA issued instructions to cable operators earlier
this week to restore Geo to normal distribution or face suspension of their
licenses.
'Unannounced
censorship'
The statement
also says that media managers, who feel under pressure, are dropping regular
op-ed columns and removing online editions of published articles. Wajahat
Masood, a well-known columnist associated with Pakistan’s largest daily, Jang,
confirmed to VOA that he has been experiencing blocking of his op-ed pieces.
“No formal
announcement has been made but unannounced censorship has been in place since
2014. I cannot complain to my newspaper (for not publishing my pieces) as the
paper itself has been facing censorship problems for four years now,” Masood
said. Irshad Arif, group editor of Daily 92 News, does not hold newspapers
responsible for not publishing certain pieces and says journalists and writers
should be aware of their responsibility.
“There is some
difference between mainstream media and social media,” he said. “Writers should
think before they submit articles to newspapers. When it is published, it is
the responsibility of editor and the newspaper. They cannot justify something
that is against the constitution, laws or society norms. You cannot justify
uncontrolled freedom. It does not happen even in [the] USA and Europe.”
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