February 8, 2026
Muhammad Junaid
LAHORE
Speakers at the 6th Asma Jahangir Conference warned on Sunday that censorship, obscure restrictions, and the use of laws such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) continue to undermine the credibility and sustainability of Pakistan’s mainstream media.
The session titled “Will Mainstream Media Survive Censorship?” was moderated by senior journalist and television host Maria Memon. The panel comprised Geo News’ Capital Talk host Hamid Mir, former Dawn resident editor in Islamabad Arifa Noor, former Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairperson Absar Alam, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Heritage and Culture Huzaifa Rehman.
Hamid Mir said censorship and delays in reporting major incidents only damage public trust in local media and harm Pakistan’s broader interests. Referring to the February 6 deadly blast at a mosque near Islamabad, he said suppressing news on domestic channels was futile when international media continued to report freely.
“Your censorship only works on channels like Geo, ARY or Dunya. It does not work on CNN or the BBC,” Mir said. “By stopping the news here, you are damaging Pakistan’s interests because you are harming the credibility of Pakistani media.”
He added that unannounced censorship was more dangerous than declared restrictions, as it left journalists without legal clarity or recourse. Referring to journalists being taken off air without any explanation, Mir said, “Why are Kashif Abbasi and many others are off air? we can’t tell you, and no one will tell you. If you believe someone has done something against the law, then apply PECA or file a case so they can go to court and defend themselves.”
حذیفہ صاحب ہمیں وزیر اعظم صاحب سے پوچھ کر بتا دیں کہ کاشف عباسی کا قصور کیا ہے؟ ان پر کوئ پیکا ایکٹ نہیں لگا۔ جب تک کاشف عباسی آف ائیر ہے آپ یہ کہہ ہی نہیں سکتے کہ پاکستان میں آزادی صحافت ہے۔ کاشف عباسی یہیں رہے گا پابندی لگانے والے نہیں رہیں گے۔
حامد میر کا عاصمہ جہانگیر… pic.twitter.com/Zc6Azpaal2
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) February 8, 2026
“Censors and those imposing censorship will not survive,” he said. “Journalists may be beaten or thrown behind bars, but they will survive.”
Addressing the session, Arifa Noor said that it was not just the media’s credibility at stake, but that of the state itself. She argued that media owners needed to rethink their business models and focus on rebuilding audiences rather than relying on state support.
Referring to the government’s practice of banning journalists by questioning their credibility, she said, “You can’t tell us who’s a journalist and who’s not. If we don’t know how to do journalism, then who else does?”
مین اسٹریم میڈیا اور ریاست کی کر یڈیبیلیٹی دونوں ہی خطرے میں ہیں جمہوریت کی مضبوطی میڈیا کی مضبوطی ہے۔ اب مسئلہ میڈیا کی ساکھ کا نہیں ریاست کی ساکھ کا ہےْ
عارفہ نور#AJCONF pic.twitter.com/UMGqfMtieo
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) February 8, 2026
She added that the key challenge facing mainstream media was how to reclaim space increasingly occupied by social media, noting that credibility alone would not be sufficient and that innovation would also be required.
Absar Alam, the former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), highlighted the fragile financial foundations of Pakistan’s media industry, warning that an abrupt withdrawal of government advertisements could even shut down newspapers overnight. “There is no sustainable business model,” he said, adding that audiences no longer had the time or space for long-form investigative journalism in traditional print formats.
ہمارے اخبارات وہ صحافت کی خدمت کرنے کے لیے نہیں بلکہ بڑے کاروبای حضرات کی انشورنش پالیسی ہیںـ
ابصار عالم @AbsarAlamHaider #AJCONF pic.twitter.com/M0pAw5ovoZ
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) February 8, 2026
Representing the government, Huzaifa Rehman acknowledged the existence of restrictions on free expression and said no government should oppose freedom of speech. “If I cannot defend a government action, I will not say something wrong, because positions are temporary,” he said. He added that no state could afford irresponsible journalism, emphasizing the need for accountability alongside free expression.
جب ریاست کوئی خبر روکتی ہے تو اس سے خبر ختم نہیں ہوتی بلکہ اس مزید جعلی خبریں پھیلنے لگتی ہیں، وزیراعظم کے معاون خصوصی حذیفہ رحمان#AJCONF @HuzaifaRehman_ pic.twitter.com/ZCXjI8Jnvs
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) February 8, 2026
He further noted that suppressing news did not eliminate it but instead fuelled misinformation. “When the state stops a story, the news does not disappear. It only leads to the spread of fake news. It is better to present your position than to stop the news,” he said.
In her concluding remarks, Maria Memon appreciated Rehman for acknowledging censorship and expressed hope that the aspiration for free speech in Pakistan would one day be realised.