Dawn comments editorially on besieging of its office

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 December 2019

Dawn has called for stronger support for press freedom following repeated protests at its office. The editorial highlights concerns over the growing hostility towards independent journalism in Pakistan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Commenting on the second besieging of its Islamabad office in a week, Dawn on Sunday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to declare his full-throated support for press freedom and have his government demonstrate this intent.

The editorial — Threats yet again — termed the second protest “part of a year-long campaign to create a hostile environment for independent journalism in Pakistan and, in turn, to silence all dissent.”

The paper appreciated the statements of two ministers — Firdous Ashiq Awan and Shireen Mazari — condemning the threats to Dawn but noted that “these were qualified with scolding reminders for the media to ‘protect Pakistan’s interests…”

This, the paper maintained, betrays PTI’s ambivalence towards fundamental rights. “Citing vague ‘national interests’ has become synonymous with a systematic effort to erode citizens’ constitutionally protected freedoms of speech, expression, and information.”

The paper feared that the undermining of the press represents a dangerous drift away from democratic norms, away from the very spirit on which this country was founded.