PAKISTAN
Media in
Chains
As the media crisis in Pakistan intensified in
November 2007, the International Federation
of Journalists (IFJ) sent an emergency mission
to the country to support its affiliate, the
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ),
and local media community in their defence of
a free media and free expression.
The crisis was building throughout the year, but
the imposition of emergency rule and related
amendments to two important laws governing
the media raised the stakes by seeking to silence
journalists and media institutions.
The PEMRA Problem
One of the main concerns during the IFJ
mission was the increasing and arbitrary power
of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory
Authority (PEMRA) to restrict freedom of
expression and inhibit a culture of journalistic
inquiry in Pakistan.
The mission delegates underlined their
concerns about PEMRA and its “code of
conduct” for journalists in meetings with
representatives of the caretaker government.
The delegates sent a clear message that there
was worldwide concern about government-
backed authorities threatening penalties if
media institutions do not sign the code of
conduct – a code that has received no input
from journalists and which in fact imposes
censorship. Despite claims by officials that the
PEMRA clampdown would be temporary,
PEMRA has since tightened controls by
banning live coverage of events related to the
national elections on January 8.
Fundamental to any code of ethics and conduct
for journalists is that journalists draw up the
code themselves and that media is independent
and dedicated to freedom of expression. The
mission inquiries found that pressure on media
institutions to sign the PEMRA code indicate a
misunderstanding of the principles of ethical
and responsible journalism. Under such a code,
journalists cannot fulfill their duty to inform
citizens by reporting frankly on the
administration that governs them.
Genuine Code for Journalists
At its World Congress in 1954, the IFJ adopted
a Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of
Journalists. These principles include:
u Respect for truth and for the right of the public to Principles of
truth is the first duty of the journalist.
Journalistic
u The journalist shall at all times defend the
principles of freedom in the honest collection and
Ethics
publication of news, and of the right to fair
comment and criticism.
• Freedom
u Within the general law of each country the • Truth
journalist shall recognise in matters of
• Independence
professional matters the jurisdiction of colleagues
only, to the exclusion of any kind of interference
by governments or others. • Accountability
• Fair debate
Islamabad Declaration
• Minimise harm
These principles were endorsed during the IFJ
mission when journalists and a wide range of
representatives of civil society issued a • No incitement
declaration on 20 November. The Islamabad to hatred
Declaration demanded Pakistan’s anti-media
laws be revoked. It added:
The right to know should not be taken away from
the people of Pakistan. The liberty and safety of
journalists and editorial independence are principles
of press freedom that we hold as sacrosanct and
non-negotiable . . .
Universal Declaration
of Human Rights
The Islamabad Declaration is in keeping with
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
which Pakistan has signed and which says in
Article 19:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and
expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any
media, and regardless of frontiers.
The IFJ, with journalists in Pakistan and across
the world, calls on all leaders and authorities in
Pakistan to abide by their obligations under the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and take
all necessary measures to restore free expression.
More Information
The International
The report of the IFJ mission’s investigations
Federation of Journalists
will be available in January 2008.
is the world's largest
For more information about press freedom, organisation of journalists
ethical journalism and the IFJ Declaration of and represents 600,000
Principles on the Conduct of Journalists, journalists in 120 countries.
go to: www.ifj.org www.ifj.org