Dawn paints a grim picture of press freedom in Pakistan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 May 2023

Dawn newspaper's editorial reveals a worsening situation for press freedom in Pakistan. The report cites 140 cases of media violations and declining conditions for journalists.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—On World Press Freedom Day, Dawn newspaper painted a gloomy picture of the right to freely report and free speech in Pakistan, saying there is little for journalists in Pakistan to celebrate.

In an editorial ‘Press Freedom’, the paper said journalists’ right to free speech, which underpins their profession, continues to be imperiled and the landscape is evolving in new and disturbing ways.

The editorial extensively quoted the report of the Freedom Network, an award-winning independent national media watchdog, which documented 140 cases of attacks and violations against journalists and other media professionals between May 2022 and March 2023.

“Five media professionals were killed and unsuccessful attempts were made on the lives of 10 others. Women journalists, as always, continued to be the target of vile, sexualised attacks on social media.”

Dawn did not see any improvement in the situation for journalists, holding “a precipitous degradation in the quality of public discourse and growing intolerance for differing political opinions”, for making life difficult for journalists.

“In a country where the right to inform and be informed has never been accepted in its true spirit, worse times may lie ahead for the beleaguered media.”