A Plethora of Anti-Media Laws in Pakistan (Ishraq Ahmed Hashmi)

It seems that the preparation to choose the media for the wall through the "Firewall" is complete. Now I don't know if the target is the media or "Digital PTI" In both cases the loss will be to the Muslim League (N) and the current government which is setting new records in bringing anti-media laws. In 2016 PICA and now in its continuation Media Authority, then preparing to control the media in Punjab in the name of defamation law and now the attack on social media through a "Firewall" from Brother Malik China. If General Zia and General Musharraf had not devised so many laws to take away freedom, surely "Congratulations" would have been made. Now the government is doing all this on its own wish or can't say anything without verifying anyone as a proxy.

Journalists are being killed here, the media is under blame, there is censorship, and the target is only the media. I accept the law of "defamation" in the media which was brought in 2002 after some investigations, but it was said then and still today. I say that it shows the intentions of the governments, you don't want to improve, you want to target the opponents, whenever there is censorship on the media, then understand that the media is doing something good.

If journalists are being martyred, missing, or being subjected to torture, then know that the media is doing a good job. From 1857 till today black laws were brought to control the press, yesterday it was done by the British, and today black British and their slaves.

So, in the name of Allah, you have to build a wall, do it. Censorship has to be applied, put it on, they were opposed yesterday, and they will do it today, the only difference is that during the PTI era, the leadership of the Muslim League was sitting with us, today it is the PTI. All our journalism organizations need to do is unite. Put your differences aside, bad things are coming. So don't tera jan muhammad mira nasrullah gadani and teri pfuj and meripfujna. In this way, some journalists created different forums a few years ago, one of them "Freedom Network" has worked hard for a year, especially in Sindh province. A report has been prepared regarding Sindhi media because Sindhi media is the most effective after Urdu, English. This report includes not only facts and events, but also suggestions on how to solve the problems faced by journalism and journalists. By reading this investigative report containing about 50 attributes, one can understand what are the motivations for attacks on journalists.

By the way, the situation of journalists and media workers in the whole country is very bad and the media house itself is not ready to take any responsibility, but in this digital media era, journalism with so many words is happening. However, compared to the center and other provinces, Sindh province is the first province where a Journalist Protection Commission was formed in 2021 for the protection of journalists. A similar commission needs to be set up immediately at the center and in the provinces.

Today's challenge is "Digital or Social Media". It is also the most effective platform for information and disinformation. Solution "x" or the former "Twitter" is not restricted. What kind of ban is this that I have never resorted to vpn after the ban on "x", but someone is constantly tweeting with my picture in urdu. By the way, I have a lot of namesakes and sometimes Governor House and Chief Minister House and sometimes some advertising company friends. "Sir, your request has come." And I have to say, brother, I have not made any request. In this way, a man is using my name in a picture made on "Facebook". I don't mind if they do "journalism". This problem is not only with me but also with many reliable people. For example, Mr. Anwar Maqsood, but these are challenges, their solution is not to ban or control the media. Now what can I say on this that the law of "defamation" is being made by those who defame the people every day. Lies are spread daily in government advertisements. Disinformation is spread by presenting the advertisement in the form of news.

Our friends who think that media or journalists do not want their accountability, they are wrong. We are presenting the testimonies, it is difficult to catch the killers in any case. Since 2008, concrete proposals have been given to almost every government and information minister. In 2008, the then Minister of Information Sherry Rehman gave a solid proposal for a "Media Complaint Commission". The same was requested from the incoming Information Ministers. Even the Supreme Court abolished the "secret" fund from the Ministry of Information on the request of Hamid Mir and others.

The Press Council is also an accountability forum, which needs to be made effective. The PEMRA rules were improved through negotiations to such an extent that the next PEMRA chairman will be appointed on the recommendations of the parliamentary committee. The members of the Council of Complaints should also be appointed by the Committee. On "Digital Media", all media stakeholders, digital media organizations should first review these trends and trends, what is fake and what is fact. What is information, what is misinformation, what is disinformation. If someone is expressing his opinion, then it is his right, if he is spreading fake news, take action and prove it according to the law, but do not make a sign of political revenge, do not make a wall or wall chain to elect someone in the wall.

China is our friend,

but

the system is there,

don't go to that side, remember to

salute it from a distance.

When there was no social media, there was censorship, be it in the era of print or electronic media. Censorship is not related to a new medium but to the fear of expression. This "digital genie" is no longer ready to go into the bottle, it is better to take it as a challenge rather than a threat.