Dawn raps PTI for issuing list of good and bad journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 7 December 2020

Dawn newspaper condemned the PTI government for its hostile treatment of journalists. The editorial focused on the issuance of lists labeling journalists as good or bad, emphasizing the risks faced by independent media.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Dawn newspaper on Monday accused the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government of creating a vicious environment where journalists cannot do their job without risking their physical safety and mental wellbeing.

In an editorial, Bad journos, the paper rapped the PTI for issuing a list of allegedly bad and good journalists.

It said that on Thursday when Twitter was abuzz over Stephen Sackur’s punishing interview of Ishaq Dar on BBC Hard Talk and comparing it with ‘softer’ approaches by some Pakistani anchors, the PTI’s official Lahore account posted two execrable tweets.

The first was a list of media persons whom it said were “building narratives for the corrupt,” the second was another list, this time of “brave and bold journalists fighting the war of truth and justice.”

The paper maintained the tweets betray the ruling party’s attitude towards independent-minded journalists. “These are the media persons who do not flinch from asking uncomfortable questions—in short, who do what their profession demands of them, which is to hold the government’s feet to the fire.”

The paper regretted that female journalists are particularly targeted. “Women journalists, in particular, are bombarded with sexualised threats aimed at intimidating them into silence.”

The editorial recalled that last year, the PTI’s official account fired off several tweets denouncing as ‘anti-state’ media persons critical of the government. Adding insult to injury, the government doubled down by saying that the digital campaign was aimed at ‘educating’ the media, not ridiculing them.