‘Govts twist media arms’ | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

‘Govts twist media arms’

ISLAMABAD- Media independence in Pakistan is a myth as governments always apply different overt and covert tactics of twisting media arms,” speakers on Sunday in a seminar on “Media Independence in Pakistan:

Myth or Reality” organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
They also made it clear that media had gained a controlled independence over the years because of constant struggles and sacrifices based on courage, professionalism and ability to withstand against all odds. They also urged the civil society to extend its support to media in its struggle for freedom of expression.
Senior journalist Nawaz Raza of daily Nawa-I-Waqt lamented that media was never independent in Pakistan and it always remained under pressure in playing its genuine role.
Giving several examples, he said that advertisements, income tax manipulations remained as key pressurizing tactics to curb the freedom of media. He said that the media had reached to the present stage due to the courageous and tireless struggle of the media men. He urged collective struggle for the genuine independence of media in the country.
Shamim Shahid Peshawar Bureau Chief, TheNation deplored that they could only talk about the freedom of media where the media exist and there was no media in Pakistan.
Giving some concrete examples of restrictions and threats to media in NWFP and FATA, he said that journalists were facing several problems and they felt insecure while performing their professional duties due to the presence of militant groups and government pressures.
He said that due to the insecurity and threats to their life, many tribal journalists left the area or changed their profession. He said journalists were facing the same situation in the settled districts in north and southern parts of the province.
Tariq Chaudhary, a journalist urged civil society to come forward and support to media so that it can independently function. He regretted that no institution in the country could work independently under the dictatorial rule and absence of genuine democracy.
He said there were certain government departments, which always influence the media in independent reporting. While giving certain examples of events such as Agra summit, Shahbaz Sharif’s arrival in Pakistan, Hadayat Ullah murder case, Marriott hotel bomb blast, he said, media was always being pressurized in its efforts to cover different aspects of such events.
“Life threats, closure of channels/newspapers, terminations and so many such tactics were being applied to stop media in objectively performing their duties” he added.
Source: Nation
Date:3/20/2007