AUDIO leaks clearly runneth into the new year, a splash here and there, so that the spillage becomes harder to clean up. The latest audio leak from PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz is a conversation between her and former information minister Pervaiz Rashid about which commentator on Geo TV’s analyst-based shows is biased against the party […]
Pakistani journalists, who have taken on military leaders and been beaten and jailed in the pursuit of a free press, say they now face a form of censorship that is more subtle but no less chilling, one spearheaded by the security services. Journalists and press freedom advocates say the military and the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence […]
ISLAMABAD: The Censorship Committee on Defence Planning (CCDP) has been revived by the government after 18 years to protect the “national interest” being threatened, particularly by the unregulated and unchecked electronic media of the country. Sources said that the CCDP, which met on Dec 16, 2015, after a long gap of 18 years, decided to […]
LONDON: World renowned journalist and author Hamid Mir has been shortlisted for the 2016 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards for his commendable fight for media freedoms and civil liberties of Pakistani citizens from all persuasions. Index on Censorship, a UK-based non-profit organisation that campaigns against censorship worldwide and promotes work of censored writers, […]
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani journalists and media houses during the year 2015 saw dramatic increase in censorship and silent, but potent crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression during the incumbent democratic setup which was never seen in previous civilian set ups. Freedom Network, an independent Pakistani media and civil liberties watchdog pinpointed this fact in its […]
KARACHI: Google recently launched a localised (.pk) version of YouTube in Pakistan. Many celebrated the development, while a few raised eyebrows. Most thought it now implied a smooth return of YouTube to Pakistan after the hiatus of over three years. But guess what: YouTube’s official entrance is still pending. While it was available through some […]
KARACHI: As the National Assembly gears up to debate the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill (PEC 2015), a UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has urged legislators to ensure that the bill contains clear language and does not encroach on free speech. “My real concern is if this legislation were to become law, […]
Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the restrictive nature of a new code of conduct for radio and TV stations that was drafted by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), an information ministry off shoot, and took effect on 20 August. Called the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015, it is […]
We come into this world crying, and by that we are marked as healthy. We leave it with our last words imparting whatever final wisdom they can to those who matter to us. In those moments, expression is free and fearless. All our lives, the desire to express what we feel even if — sometimes […]
By: Malik Asad ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday restrained the inter-ministerial committee for the evaluation of websites (IMCEW) from blocking websites, including that of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for the rights of internet users. Justice Athar Minallah issued the order on a petition filed by ‘Bolo Bhi’. The committee was restrained […]
Affordable access to the Internet should be a human right, as it represents hope for political freedom and economic prosperity to many around the world, according to a survey Monday. Most people also do not want any one nation or organisation to manage this global network of computers, in order to prevent crackdowns on free […]
IN an effort towards greater transparency, social networking giant Facebook released its latest ‘Government Requests Report’ containing bare-bones data on requests they receive from countries for access to user account data, and requests to restrict access to content. The current January-June 2014 report is the third such dataset Facebook has released, and, staying true to […]
The rise and rise of the internet over the last 20 years to the point of its ubiquity today is both boon and bane for governments everywhere. In large part, this is because the internet is the complete antithesis of government. It is in many ways unregulated and extremely difficult to control where it has […]
ISLAMABAD: In compliance with an order of the Lahore High Court (LHC), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned on Sunday ARY News anchor Mubashir Lucman and his programme ‘Khara Such’ till further orders of the court. The ban will also apply on his appearance in any other TV programme in any capacity. “We […]
” 
” 
” 
” 
