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Writer's pictureZaina Nauman Afzal

Silencing Voices: The Chilling Reality of Press Freedom in Pakistan




Imran Riaz Khan was once again arrested early this week on his way to perform Hajj, and while he was clad in ihram, no less. As an individual who has ‘disappeared’ at the hands of the government for over 4 months and, in the words of his lawyer, been ‘arrested like a terrorist’ multiple times, Riaz is a classic case of those in power abusing their authority to ensure their prerogative prevails.


Do not think the case of Imran Riaz is an exception. Do not consider it a fluke, an outlier, or an isolated incident. Do consider it a message. Consider it a direct warning from those in power to put the rest of society in its place: silent. The plight of journalists is a very stark reality that is faced by all those who voice their opinions over any matter concerning the politics of Pakistan. And the audacity they have! Foreign is the concept of shame, of discretion, of accountability. The blatant lack of freedom of speech has never been as rampant as it is today, with anyone speaking up getting ‘picked up’ in obscure circumstances and disappearing indefinitely. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, ‘in the last 10 years, over 3500 journalists have been victims of enforced disappearances’.


Imran Riaz’s release at the hands of the Lahore High Court was not the victory for the press that it may seem like on the surface. In fact, the judiciary’s intervention to secure his freedom actually exposes its limitations; it speaks volumes that court interference was needed to ensure a journalist's safety. All it has done is paint a false illusion of security for journalists. The fragility of press freedom marks a peak era of bowdlerization. But who is running it all behind the scenes?


It is commonly said that the country suppresses narratives that do not suit their own, but it is rare to have someone actually name the individuals who are pulling all the strings: the army. There are corrupt people all over the country, from government officials to bank workers. Yet, since the formation of this country, the military has been running the show in some form or another. For one, the deep state of our nation; an amalgamation of the military and intelligence services: the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). With time, it has become increasingly apparent that it is an organ of the army, not of the state itself. The objective is straightforward – muzzle the media, control the narrative, and eliminate the opposition. It should be noted that statements like these cannot be pushed into the public narrative if one does not value their own safety. I, for one, am confident that if I were writing this for a publishing agency and not for my professor, this piece would never see the light of day!


Why are those in power so threatened by individuals equipped with a mere paper and pen? Journalists find themselves targets of systematic persecution; the laws built to protect them are rendered useless. The truth is that the fight for press freedom is a struggle for the very soul of democracy. Without it, the public remains in the dark, and the foundations of democracy crumble. It seems that as the army chooses to play judge, jury, and executioner with the lives of the innocent, the remnants of Zia’s military era echo in every courtroom. One of Imran Riaz's arrests had him charged with damaging a barrier outside the airport, despite ‘nothing on record to suggest that the accused was driving a vehicle at the time of alleged occurrence’! There is no longer even an attempt at subtlety; they just do as they please. And why shouldn’t they, when they never face any consequences?


There exists a minority who are skeptical of the mass censorship and efforts to curb narratives in this country, who claim there are no real consequences for journalists. To

them I present another example: Palestine. The repercussions of non-conformity have never been more apparent than in a place where genocide is occurring. With a complete disregard for humanitarian laws and basic decency, Palestine has taught us that there is a price to pay for free speech, and journalists pay the highest of them all.

Pakistan threatens those who speak up with a complex web of challenges; economic pressures, job insecurity, and fear of physical safety are just some of the factors that foster self-censorship amongst journalists in an attempt to stifle critical discourse. Consequently, the public is deprived of essential information, and all sense of accountability goes unchecked, with corruption gaining the upper hand.


Despite the many horrors that have been committed against him, Imran Riaz has stated that he will ‘stay in Pakistan as long as he is alive’ as it will ‘not stay like this forever’. How he has the capacity for hope after experiencing the brunt of the worst of us is beyond me. Forever a pessimist, I cannot see myself agreeing with Riaz. Yet if more journalists like him continue to educate others and exercise their right to voice their opinions, then maybe there is hope for our country after all. The cost of silence is too high to bear, and truth must prevail against the forces of intimidation. Let me know how you feel on the matter, and if you agree or disagree!


Zaina Nauman Afzal

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13 Comments


26020447
Jun 30

Such an inciteful post! The tragic death of Arshad Sharif is still a mystery, but it shows a troubling pattern we've seen many times. His death reminds us of the dangerous situation journalists face in Pakistan. We all know about the hidden forces behind these terrible acts. It’s not just guessing, but a sign of a powerful system meant to silence those who speak out. Arshad Sharif’s case, like Imran Riaz Khan’s, highlights our country's serious threats to press freedom. Silencing voices through such violent means sends a clear message to anyone who dares to challenge the powerful.

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This is truly a powerful piece. Your analysis of the systemic issues within the country, particularly the role of the military and intelligence services in curbing free speech, is both accurate and alarming. Talking about such issues on social media like Twitter as in individual citizens can also lead to anonymous threats to take down the post that can sometimes lead to even more serious issues of abduction or violence. The statistics that you have mentioned are truly chilling. There is a clear pattern of intimidation, that as you mention can be translated to what is happening in Palestine. While Imran Riaz's bravery is inspiring there seems to be no remorse for whoever it is to intimidate as many a…

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Thank you for your insight, you truly are correct and the fact is that efforts to help are often curbed. As students, we do not hold power the way those in higher positions may, However, we do have the ability to spread information and awareness, whether it be through talks, rallies or social media. You are also correct in the matter that individuals who do this are often subjected to threats and abductions. Therefore it is a fine line to walk, and must be done in tandem with those in higher power to ensure safety overall.

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Thank you for this insightful and powerful piece. you have very well explained the bad state of media and journalism in Pakistan and it is sad to see that prominent journalists like Imran Riaz are silenced in such a harsh manner and treated so badly. However, there are a multiple cases in Pakistan where journalists are silenced and there is no freedom of speech. There must be accountability for the treatment of journalists and the silencing of their voices. the lack of press freedom further ruins the hopes of democracy in this country.


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Thank you very much, and I agree with you! The only way to tackle this problem is to keep talking about it, to not let it die, to not let all those who have suffered to be in vain. Accountability is a must, and we have the power to do so, we just need to rally our efforts enough to fight back against those who attempt to silence us

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This is such a powerful and necessary critique. The current state of press freedom in Pakistan is horrendous. Imran Riaz's case is not an isolated incident. It is a deliberate message to society. It shows the lengths those in power will go to silence dissent. The chilling effect this has on freedom of expression cannot be overstated. The figure of over 3500 journalists falling victim to enforced disappearances in the past decade is a statistic that should alarm anyone who values democratic principles and human rights. Your comparison with Palestine is spot on. There is a global struggle for free speech and the high price paid by those who dare challenge oppressive regimes. Also, a lot of times, it is…

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Thank you, I really agree with you! The reality that we live in needs to be altered by whatever means possible, as already too many have suffered in an attempt to restore freedom of speech an spread information. As for the statistics, be sure that these are understated, and the realities are much harsher than presented to us. The comparison to Palestine does raise the issue of critiquing others rather than ourselves, and the question of why it took a genocide to start talking about these issues when they have been occurring for decades on our own homeland.

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Your blog post brings to light some extremely critical issues regarding press freedom and the misuse of power in Pakistan. This level of censorship and control is not only a direct threat to journalists but to democracy as a whole. It feels disingenuous to call this country democratic when we are so far from the actual essence of democracy. It's astonishing how normalized the disappearance of journalists has become. Recently a freelance Kashmiri journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah, who was taken from his home at night by unidentified men. Not being able to tell the truth about this country and being arrested for it is a violation of human rights that is a constant. Your analysis of the military’s role…

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Thank you for your insight! In regards to the limitations of the judiciary, I feel that measures to protect journalists can actually be taken. The first step is spreading of information. Thankfully, due to social media platforms that allow live streaming and news pages like Instagram, YouTube and Facebook, the narrative of news is not restricted to a few entities that are able to censor as they please. As we are currently seeing in Palestine, journalists are showing firsthand not only the devastating atrocities being committed to thousands but we are also seeing how they suffer. If enough awareness is spread of what the Pakistani government does to censor people's freedom of speech, public opinion and backlash may make a…

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