Qamar Bashir
On the occasion of the World Day Against Cyber Censorship, celebrated globally on March 12th, the Paris-based media watchdog, Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), unveiled the launch of Operation Collateral Freedom (OCF). This initiative empowers over 100 media outlets in 32 countries to bypass censorship, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. Operation Collateral Freedom achieves this by creating mirror sites of blocked websites, ensuring constant synchronization with the originals and placing them in various online locations.
OCF helps the journalists to adapt to the evolution in censorship techniques, provides the media with IT resources through the Collateral Freedom app since August 2023, which allows them to mirror sites hosted on the online infrastructure used by RSF. So far 480 mirror sites on RSF’s servers are currently enabling access to 100 censored media outlets.
Pakistani journalists grappling with censorship and social media restrictions have an opportunity to benefit from RSF’s Operation Collateral Freedom. Through this initiative, RSF creates mirror sites of blocked media outlets, providing users access to content otherwise censored. Journalists can request their websites be mirrored and utilize the Collateral Freedom app for technical support, ensuring their content remains accessible despite censorship attempts. By staying informed about RSF’s efforts, collaborating with international partners, and advocating for press freedom, Pakistani journalists can effectively combat online censorship and ensure their voices are heard.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has consistently voiced concerns regarding restrictions, both official and unofficial, on press and media freedom in Pakistan. In an open letter to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on March 4th, RSF urgently urged the new government to take immediate steps to restore press freedom, significantly weakened in recent years. RSF highlighted that the 2024 electoral process witnessed a notable surge in violations against media freedom, emphasizing the critical need for prompt and effective measures to address these issues.RSF condemns the arbitrary shutdowns of the Internet and mobile services, as well as the blocking of social media platforms for political purposes, deeming such actions unacceptable in a democratic society and urged the government to provide an assurance that it will refrain from resorting to these authoritarian measures, which undermine freedom of expression and access to information.
RSF’s assessment underscores Pakistan’s standing in media freedom, ranking 150th out of 180 countries. Shockingly, between 2012 and 2022, 53 journalists lost their lives in Pakistan, with convictions secured for only 4% of these cases.
RSF highlights various forms of media coercion in Pakistan, including military interference, journalist abductions by intelligence agencies, legislative misuse to muzzle journalists, arbitrary Internet shutdowns, and draconian media laws. The lackluster investigations into these crimes perpetuate impunity, denying justice to victims. RSF emphasizes the urgent need for strengthened legislation to combat impunity and ensure respect for the rule of law, particularly concerning criminal activities by security services targeting journalists deemed “troublesome,” such as abductions, secret detentions, and torture.
RSF underscores Pakistan’s status as one of the most perilous environments for journalists, marked by extensive censorship and self-censorship. Urgently, RSF calls upon the new government to address this critical issue and honor commitments made by political parties during the electoral campaign. These include establishing a Safety and Security Commission for journalists, as pledged by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and revising the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, as promised by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). RSF urges the government to combat harassment against women journalists, enforce laws protecting journalists, repeal restrictive legislation on information rights, ensure media independence, cease arbitrary Internet and social media shutdowns, and enable journalists to work safely while upholding the free flow of information.
RSF emphasizes the urgency for the federal government to enact the 2021 federal law on the protection of journalists and media professionals without delay. Despite Prime Minister Sharif’s public commitment in Islamabad on December 6, 2022, to establish the planned security commission, it has yet to be implemented, rendering the law ineffective. Additionally, RSF calls for the revision of Article 6 to eliminate the contentious reference to “bona fide journalism.” These measures are crucial to safeguarding the rights and safety of journalists in Pakistan.
RSF urges the information ministry to cease using advertising revenue as a tool to manipulate the editorial direction of privately-owned media outlets, whose financial stability relies heavily on legal notices and state sector advertising. Additionally, RSF condemns the military’s persistent intervention in media affairs to suppress information. Journalists must have the freedom to cover all topics without fear, including those concerning the armed forces, terrorism, and the defense of civil liberties. This entails ensuring unbiased reporting and protecting journalists from undue influence or intimidation.
RSF challenges the government to review several laws that encroach upon press and media freedom, including certain clauses of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2023 (PEMRA Amendment Act). These amendments purportedly combat disinformation but risk enabling media censorship. RSF insists on precise definitions for terms like “authentic information” and “disinformation” to prevent license withdrawal or outlet suspension. The Official Secrets Amendment Act (2023) requires revision to prevent its misuse against journalists. Additionally, Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, known as “PECA,” is currently utilized to censor social media criticism and must be revised to safeguard online freedom of expression.
In his inaugural address to the newly sworn-in cabinet, the Prime Minister rightly underscored trade and investment as critical areas for uplifting the beleaguered state of the economy.
However, while emphasizing hard work as the primary pathway to achieving economic progress, it’s imperative to recognize that the perception of a country’s brand value plays a pivotal role in attracting favorable trade and investment.
Regrettably, the current brand image of Pakistan languishes at its lowest, trailing behind many regional counterparts and only marginally above war-torn nations. This dismal performance extends across various international indices and rankings, spanning from soft power and economic indicators to rule of law, legislative freedom, democracy, justice, and freedom of press and media.
To effectively stimulate trade and investment, there must be a concerted effort to uplift Pakistan’s brand image across all these fronts. This entails upholding the rule of law, adhering steadfastly to democratic principles, ensuring the freedom and independence of vital institutions, and safeguarding the fundamental rights of speech, assembly, and media.
Without tangible improvements in these areas, mere lofty promises, impassioned speeches, or even diligent hard work will fall short in revitalizing the country’s economic prospects.
Investors and trade partners seek stability, transparency, and reliability, qualities that can only be fostered through genuine institutional reforms and unwavering commitment to democratic values which include freedom of press and media. Therefore, it’s paramount for the government to prioritize these foundational pillars of governance to pave the way for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
Writer is Press Secretary to the President (Rtd), Former Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France ,Former MD, SRBC