- The PTI is hurting itself
Within a year of coming to power, the PTI government has made two moves to tighten its control over the media. In January the federal cabinet approved the creation of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) by merging all media regulatory bodies into one. Now it has floated a proposal for media courts. Both the measures were introduced on the pretext of protecting media workers’ rights. Interestingly the bodies representing the media workers were neither consulted nor had called for the formation of the two bodies. The PMRA was consequently opposed not only by the CPNE, the Press Council and APNS but also by PFUJ. The idea was subsequently shelved indefinitely. Within hours of the announcement of the proposal for media courts, the idea drew flak from the CPNE and APNS. A similar reaction is likely to come from the PFUJ.
The CPNE rejected the idea of media courts for being discriminatory. It pointed out that the move was aimed at increasing pressure on the media and the journalists. In the presence of the Press Council of Pakistan, PEMRA’s Commission of Complaints, the Wage Board Implementation Tribunal and other laws and forums, there was no need for a new body. The Pakistani media is already facing immense direct and indirect pressure. It is therefore the duty of the government to take measures for easing the existing constraints. The APNS called the idea of media courts an institutionalised lever for arm-twisting the media, reflecting the mindset of the present power centre that intends to curb voices of dissent by all means.
The PTI has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of media freedom in Pakistan. The media covered its protests, introduced its several little-known leaders and thus contributed to its victory. It makes little sense for the PTI to try and destroy the very vehicle which has helped it reach the seat of power. The media must not be deprived of the freedom to report events and positions taken by political parties objectively. Those in power need to realize that they too would be in the opposition one day and would need their views and activities to be reported freely. With the sort of bodies they are creating, they themselves would be the sufferers.
