Declining media freedom the most serious human rights issue: I. A. Rehman

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 December 2018

ISLAMABAD – Dawn columnist I. A. Rehman has pointed out that decline in media’s freedom of expression was one of the most serious human rights issues today.

In his column titled Human rights priorities published Thursday he highlighted among other rights issues, the falling media freedom, and its economic prospects.

“Perhaps the most serious human rights issue today that deserves to be at the top of the government’s agenda is the decline in the media’s freedom of expression and the worsening of its economic prospects,” he wrote.

Rahman, who is also a human rights advocate said that by denouncing censorship as a weapon used by weak regimes, Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised hopes among media persons.

But, he wrote that it seemed that Khan was speaking about some other country or he had not been told of the concerns the media community has expressed for weeks.

“These concerns are about the economic crisis in both electronic and print media caused by discriminatory policies. As a result, a large number of journalists from both electronic and print media have been rendered jobless.

“There are complaints of censorship of a kind never experienced before, and perceptive writers are referring to a bleak future for the media. If media persons are not reliable witnesses in their own cause, their ordeal can be judged from some of the recent reports and comments on their condition.”