Daily Times

The witch-hunt shows no signs of abating. Indeed, certain institutions will not be happy until Nawaz Sharif is politically no more. And caught up in the crossfire is the fourth estate. In fact, some might say that the latter is being used and abused to do the establishment’s dirty work.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is not happy. He has blamed the country’s media for misreporting that the courts had banned speeches by the former prime minister and his daughter on the grounds of anti-judiciary content. Moreover, having recalled the Lahore High Court (LHC) order Justice Saqib Nisar confirmed that nothing therein directed PEMRA to go for the broadcast kill.

So, is the country’s electronic media really to blame for seemingly taking it upon itself to mute certain portions of Nawaz’s speech?

In a word, no.

For in modern day democratic Pakistan the fourth estate is increasingly under fire. The message was bluntly sent earlier this month when the nation’s largest television network inexplicably disappeared from certain cable operators’ menus across parts of the country; a move which was widely believed to have been at the military establishment’s ‘request’. The tussle between Geo TV and the latter dates back to 2014, when talk show host Hamid Mir was shot. He had been vocal in criticising the ISI over its heavy-handedness in dealing with Baloch separatists. His brother was quick to point the finger at the spy agency.

In addition, certain quarters of the print media have been under recent pressure to withdraw articles discussing the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). The COAS has already termed the movement that has seen thousands of Pashtuns mobilise to demand their fundamental rights as being nothing more than anti-state “engineered protests”. This ‘capitulation’ has led to international figures such as Zalmay Khalilzad pose the question as to whether or not Pakistan’s mainstream media is in khaki pockets.

This is most unfair. As are similar accusations from civil society. Activists should know better. For they, too, understand what it is to fear for their security. News organisations are responsible for multiple bureaus. And the fact that those publications which were forced to take down or not carry certain pieces did not stay quiet signals resistance. For to be sure, the media will fight back; even if it does not hold candlelit vigils whereby it would be forced to turn the camera on itself.

But it will achieve this much more efficiently if all media outlets put aside industry rivalries and agree to speak and act with one voice against intimidation. For now is not the time for point-scoring. This is something that Pakistani media understands. Even though this country is, at the best of times, a dangerous place for journalists — it has not stopped more than 60 editors, columnists, media persons and media freedom organisation representatives from joining hands to sign a statement against this ongoing censorship that sees “given news” overriding citizens’ right to information.

Because bluntly put, the days when the security establishment could take the fourth estate into confidence on matters of national interest are long gone. The most urgent challenge facing Pakistan today is democracy’s survival. And a crackdown on the fourth estate is tantamount to turning off life support.  *

Published in Daily Times, April 19^th 2018.