More control for international media as Kashmir coverage irks authorities

The new instructions are six pages long. They apply to television, newspapers, digital media, and social media. So far, no clear response has come from international media organizations or Pakistani journalists working with them. Many members of the Islamabad Press Club also work for international media, but the Press Club has also not shared any official response to these new rules.

According to the new policy, all foreign media organizations, companies, and institutions working in Pakistan, as well as everyone connected with them, must complete accreditation. This includes journalists, media owners, media professionals, freelancers, sponsors, fixers, assistants, and other related people.

For trips to Abbottabad and Murree for tourism or other approved visits, the External Publicity Wing will issue an NOC within three working days after receiving a journalist’s request.

The new rules apply to all foreign print, television, digital, social media, and web based platforms operating in Pakistan. Every journalist working with an international or foreign media organization must register through the External Publicity Wing’s online registration and accreditation portal.

All companies, organizations, and production houses in Pakistan that provide any kind of service to foreign media must also register with the ministry. People living in Pakistan who are not journalists but provide services to foreign media must also register.

The registration will not be an official government status. It will only serve as a journalistic identity. After registration, journalists must apply online for a press accreditation card by submitting all required documents.

Accreditation can be given on a yearly basis or for a temporary period. Temporary accreditation can be valid for up to three months.

Journalists with an accreditation card will have easier access to government media events and government offices. If a journalist changes their media organization or their accreditation expires, the card must be returned.

The External Publicity Wing will have the authority to suspend or cancel registration or accreditation. This can happen if a person is involved in a crime, submits fake documents, or acts against Pakistan’s sovereignty, security, peace, or public order.

The new rules also state that the NOC will be issued based on the news story. In emergency situations, an urgent NOC may be provided for immediate news coverage.

Voicepk tried to get comments from different political leaders about these new rules, but they were unable to respond because of their personal commitments.

“The new guidelines for foreign journalists in Pakistan are quite worrying,” says Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of the international media watchdog Freedom Network. “The ministry did not provide an explanation as to why it issued the guidelines now, but it is certainly aimed at blocking the free movement of both foreign journalists and Pakistani journalists working with foreign outlets—which is critical for independent reporting,” he said.

Khattak noted that the new rules are likely to put local journalists at risk. If a report produced NOC, contains content the government dislikes, it could expose the journalists who worked on the story to danger.

“I think these measures will reflect poorly on Pakistan’s commitment to defending freedom of expression, especially given the commitments the state and government have made at various international forums,” he added.

He suggested that the motive behind the notification stems from foreign media coverage of public unrest and the general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “The guidelines appear to aim at ensuring foreign journalists do not enjoy the freedom to move and report freely in Pakistan.”