March 27, 2024
By Bilal Baseer Abbasi
Digital rights activist Osama Khilji asserted that the government is attempting to curtail freedom of expression.
He was speaking at a meeting on the protection of the right to freedom of expression online, organised by the Human Rights Commission (HRCP), in Islamabad on March 26, 2024.
Khilji urged the state to not enact laws that penalize or attempt to regulate disinformation or fake news – because, “In a situation where fake news is vaguely defined, such laws often get misused”.
He added that many journalists have been arrested and harassed under Peca recently – “and their freedom of press has been curtailed”.
HRCP member Nasir Zaidi stressed on the need for human rights and media organisations to work together on curtailment of freedom of expression – “The establishment uses fake news and disinformation as a tool against the civil society, politicians and people, to bolster its controlled narrative”.
Human rights activist Altaf Khattak said that freedom of expression should not be criminalised – “It must be self-regulated”.
PPP leader Farhatullah Babar remarked, “The sudden Internet and social media shutdown since Feb 8 has resulted in political and economic setbacks. It has cast doubt on the fairness of the general elections.”
He added that when a political party utilised the Internet to connect with the public, the state imposed restrictions on Internet, economic, banking, and education – “This decision to curb the media appears arbitrary.”
Journalist Matiullah Jan said that the freedom of press is important and the need of the hour. “I think it is important that we interact with the judges on academic matters in courts, workshops and seminars. Both mediapersons and media law experts should have an interaction with the judges.”
Co-chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Munizae Jahangir commented that the state has yet to fulfill its commitments regarding freedom of the press – “It is the state’s duty to safeguard journalists, and journalists will gradually learn to self-regulate, as is the case worldwide.”
She added that Pakistan has evolved into a state where practicing as a media person has become “challenging”.
The participants recommended the inclusion of digital rights in the curriculum.