Media feeling the heat ahead of Pakistan elections on 25 July
Ahead of Pakistan’s elections, International Media Support’s Adnan Rehmat assesses the current political mood and how media is feeling the heat of heightened political pressure
By Adnan Rehmat, IMS Programme Manager, Pakistan
31 May 2018 marked the last working day of Pakistan’s National Assembly and four provincial assemblies as well as the last day of the federal and provincial governments – a good political landmark for Pakistan. For the first time in the country’s 71-year history, two democratically elected governments have completed their 5-year tenures consecutively.
National and provincial elections are scheduled for July 25, 2018 and despite lingering uncertainties rooted in Pakistan’s general historical political experience, a positive political vibe prevails about the future of democracy.
The positivity and optimism emanate from a sense of historic achievement – an electoral transition in politics, governments having accomplished a rare completion of full tenures, a dramatic reduction in levels of terrorism compared to violent elections last time in 2013 plus an end to chronic energy shortages, record urban development and best economic indicators, including economic growth, recorded in three decades.
Furthermore, the outgoing federal and provincial legislatures have produced record legislation – over 500 new laws and 5 constitutional amendments – an overwhelming majority of them progressive in nature and encapsulating far-reaching political, social and economic reforms. These included at least four progressive right to information (RTI) laws at the federal and provincial levels.
Over the tenure of the last government, the media has continued to exhibit a strong professional focus on transparency, accountability and governance issues. In 2016, the global Panama Papers scandal found a resonance in Pakistan with strong investigative reporting linking the head of the erstwhile ruling party, Nawaz Sharif, with unexplained money trails from his past that ended up with him being convicted and disqualified.
However, over the course of the period since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted by the Supreme Court in July 2017 of failing to declare income and then by an accountability court in July 2018 of hiding assets abroad, censorship has risen dramatically in Pakistan. The target is not just media, as usual, but also free speech by politicians and civil society activists.
Alarmingly high-levels of judicial activism (through suo moto notices, usually under harsh contempt of court charges) has forced gag orders on government officials, ministers, politicians, journalists as well as media houses (newspapers and TV channels). The Election Commission of Pakistan has also proposed a menu of strict free speech restrictions on politicians as well as curbs on media coverage on elections. This is apparently aimed at manipulating political perceptions and narratives in the run up to elections.
Global media coverage has focused on rising censorship in Pakistan and media rights watchdogs have raised concern at the likely adverse impact of intimidation of media on the elections process. Outgoing Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) have spoken out strongly against the attempts by the security establishment to expand an unannounced regime of censorship. Hameed Haroon, the president of APNS and head of the Dawn media group has decried ongoing ‘blatant attacks on freedom of expression’ in Pakistan.
Draconian laws used to silence online media
In recent weeks and months there has been increased use of the draconian Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 law to institute legal cases against various journalists for their social media commentary. In May 2018 alone, at least three innovative digital media (IDMs) were banned or online access to them banned using the same law. These included Hal Ahwal, an independent current affairs website run from and about generally media-dark Balochistan, Naya Daur, a current affairs independent website promoting text and video citizen journalism and focusing on analysis, and Safe Newsrooms, a web-based portal promoting testimonials and documentation on censorship by various journalists working for mainstream media.
Pakistan is one of the world’s most dangerous places to practice journalism. Since 2000 at least 119 journalists and media assistants have been killed. Over 2,000 have been attacked, injured, abducted, arrested, and harassed. The level of impunity is high – only the killers of two journalists have been identified and convicted. Between May 2017 and May 2018 alone, over 150 attacks were documented against media and its practitioners.
In response to this alarming trend, a number of media support organisations including International Media Support (IMS) has been working with local journalist associations to improve the safety of journalists. In 2015, IMS established Safety Hubs at Pakistan’s five largest press clubs whose members in total comprise of over half of the country’s 20,000 journalists. Manned by managers trained in rapid threat response, along with communication and logistics resources, the hubs have provided legal, medical, and relocation assistance to over 90 journalists so far. It is estimated that the lives of at least 40 of these journalists have been saved by relocating them within the country from conflict zones and often imminent mortal threat. Due to its effectiveness, another three press clubs have joined the Safety Hubs Network in 2018.
Working with political parties and key media stakeholders on advocacy around the issue of safety has also rendered some results. The standing committees on information and broadcasting of the Senate and National Assembly – the chambers of the country’s bicameral parliament – have been supported in drafting a special federal law on safety and protection of journalists. The federal government was in the process of tabling this law for approval and enaction when its parliamentary tenure ran out in May. The law is expected to be prioritised by the incoming new parliament and remains an important step towards protecting journalists against attacks.
For additional information: EU Election Observation Mission to Pakistan – preliminary statement on 25 July general elections can be found here
