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Critical analysis of press freedom in
Pakistan
Syed Abdul Siraj
Mass Communication, Allama
Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
E-mail:
sasiraj99@yahoo.com
Accepted 17 August, 2009 |
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Press freedom has never
been consistent in Pakistan. Different regimes used legal
and constitutional means to control the press from public
debate and criticism. In it sixty years of history, Pakistan
has been ruled by military more than the civilian. Press in
Pakistan usually faces threats, violence, economic pressure,
etc. The country's law on blasphemy has been used against
journalists. Poor literacy, urban orientation of the press,
and the high price of newspapers are detrimental factors for
the under development of print media in Pakistan. Beside
these barricades, one can now easily notice a shift from the
centralized broadcasting to an open competition broadcast
system in Pakistan, enabling the audience to enjoy more
power of selective exposure. All governments including the
military say high about the press freedom but often thing
the other way round when the press criticizes the
government. However, during the Musharraf military and civil
regime for about nine year, press was operated in a mixed
character. In view of this situation, Pakistan’s place in
the Reporters sans Frontiers - Annual Worldwide Press
Freedom Index is 152 out of a total of 167 for the year
2007. However the new government of the Pakistan People's
party has promised for maximum freedom of the press.
Key words:
Pakistan press laws, freedom, media sociology, challenges to
Pakistan media. |
