Freedom of the press in Pakistan

In 2020, Pakistan's press freedom rank dropped to 145 out of 180 countries in Press Freedom Index, an annual ranking of countries published by Reporters Without Borders (RWB), an international non-governmental organization dedicated to safeguard the right to freedom of information.[5] In 2019, the country's press freedom rank was recorded 142 in Press Freedom Index, making it a slight decline than in previous annual report.[6] The Pakistan's global index rank was declined for several issues such as killings of journalists, restrictions imposed on news media, withdrawal of government ads threats, harassment, violation of independent journalism, detention, abduction, and frivolous lawsuits against journalists.

Targeting victims such as physical abuse against journalists and prejudice is one of the other reasons for the decline in the world ranking index. The annual report stated declination of rank for several unlawful reasons such as written and verbal threats of murder, offline and online harassment. The report argued self-censorship in the country.[7]

The government of Pakistan is often argued for carrying self-censorship and detentions of the journalists under a single-issue politics.[9][10] Sometimes, only news that favours the regime is published by the local media, whilst news that covers the economic and political problems in the country, or criticisms of the regime faces threatened warnings from the state. The print and broadcasting media claims carrying stories under the political pressure since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a major political party in Pakistan came into power.[11][12]

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, a nonprofit organization of Pakistan dedicated to safeguards of journalists and media outlets argued Pakistan's direct and self-censorship and state-sponsored hostility towards independent journalists working in the country. In the recent years (around 2018 or 2019), seven journalists were killed while fifteen others were injured in different violences. In Pakistan, sixty journalists were allegedly charged under Anti-Terrorism Act. The government, however, cited the issue with the country's law and order. In 2019 or earlier, the administration, first time in the history of Pakistan temporarily banned a journalist for possessing the material unlawfully.[13] The federal government-owned agency Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), responsible for regulating and issuing channel licenses for establishment of the mass, print and electronic media, restricted some news presenters from participating in debates on Talk shows, and later the restrictions were lifted after sixty days.[14]

In 2019, the government suspended news TV channels, including Channel 24, Abb Takk News, and Capital TV for broadcasting opposition party's program on their channels. The Reporters Without Borders criticised the action citing "brazen censorship". The government, however, suspended under a set of new laws for media regulator in an attempt to restrict press conference by a convicted or on-trial politicians.[15]

The media have consistently upheld the personality cult of the leaders since the country's formation. The journalists in the country have experienced troubles during the military dictatorship, the PTI government led by Imran Khan, however, partially restored independent journalism. Sometimes, Imran Khan's government is argued for direct censorship following the Balochistan conflict.[16][11] In 2011, the tenth and the former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf is often claimed for expanding independent journalism in the country. He is also argued for banning the television news channels during 2007 Pakistani state of emergency.[17]