The Pakistan government has called journalists, freelancers and NGO staff and social workers ‘hands’ of the enemy forces’ propaganda war in its public notices in newspapers, causing uproar across the country. Along with this, human rights activists have started fierce attacks on the government for allowing journalists to remain free regarding newspapers.
Pakistan’s leading English newspaper ‘Dawn’, giving this information, further states that this move of the Pakistan government has started ‘uproar’ across the country.
Dawn further states that Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had given half-page public notices in all newspapers for two consecutive days on 1st and 2nd October, asking, ‘Have you ever thought about what war is like today? In today’s war, ammunition is not used, but ‘war’ is fought through information and broadcasting.’ Those who ‘return’ as NGO workers, newspaper journalists or freelancers are traitors to the state. They publish sensitive information and spread fear among the public and also create unrest.
In this regard, the Freedom Network, which monitors media freedom, strongly condemns such advertisements, saying, ‘Such irresponsible statements undermine the freedom of newspapers and portray press freedom as a threat to national security. As a result, the press will stop providing reliable information, which will harm both the public and the country.’
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Women’s Section Forum (Lahore), Shirkatgah-Women’s Research Centre, South Asia-Partnership Pakistan, Simordh and Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAS) have issued a joint statement criticising the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Pakistan. These advertisements are further restricting freedom of expression, which is still restricted in Pakistan.
