1:Content are censor in Pakistan 2:What kind of difficulties do journalists face in Pakistan? 3:Merits and Demerits

1. Role and Nature of Censorship in Pakistan
Iqra Babar
College Roll #: 215
University Roll #: 034993
Department of Mass Communication
BSCS-304 Media Seminar
Professor Saiba Ali Khan
April 11, 2022
Government Graduate College of Science

2. Table of Contents
Introduction: .................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Types of censorship.......................................................................................................................................4
Merits of Censorship .....................................................................................................................................5
Demerits of Censorship .................................................................................................................................5
Censorship in Pakistan ..................................................................................................................................6
Overview: ..................................................................................................................................................6
History:......................................................................................................................................................8
Censorship according to journalists and politicians....................................................................................10
What Does the Government of Pakistan Censor?.......................................................................................11
Television programs....................................................................................................................................13
Pakistani Dramas Banned by PEMRA in 2020.............................................................................................13
Web Series Churails:....................................................................................................................................15
Why was Churails Banned in Pakistan? ..................................................................................................15
Films............................................................................................................................................................16
Internet .......................................................................................................................................................18
Reasons to censor the internet ...................................................................................................................18
Pakistan’s journalists operate in a climate of fear......................................................................................19
Proposed Pakistan Law Seeks Greater Control of Media............................................................................21
Need for transparency and responsibility...................................................................................................22
Conclusion:..................................................................................................................................................23
References:..................................................................................................................................................24

3. Introduction:
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other
information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered
objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship is a form of
prohibition and punishment. Ever since the 15th century products of the printing
press have been subject to censorship and since the 20th century the same has
applied to film, radio, television and the Internet. Censorship thus relates to
public communication and content in word, image and sound. Censorship
generally focuses on communication and content that is displeasing to secular
and religious rulers. It concerns opinions on state and politics, theological and
religious issues, issues related to social inequality, sex, honour, and norms and
values. Censorship can be conducted by governments, private institutions and
other controlling bodies. Censorship is something that takes place in every
country all around the world. Not all countries share the same forms of
censorship or the same amounts of censorship, but in one way or another, all
societies are affected by it. In a general sense censorship is the supervision and
control of the information and ideas that are circulated among the people within
a society. Media censorship can really hinder a society if it is bad enough. Because
media is such a large part of people’s lives today and it is the source of basically
all information, if the information is not being given in full or truthfully then the
society is left uneducated. Censorship is probably the number one way to lower
people’s right to freedom of speech. When a journalist has to report on only what
the government wants people to know, they do not have the freedom to express
what they really want to.

4. Types of censorship
 Moral censorship
 Educational censorship
 Military censorship
 Political censorship
 Religious censorship
 Corporate censorship
 Self-censorship
Educational censorship:
 Avoiding unwanted contents in frequent sites used by students.
Moral censorship:
 By blocking racist posts in social network like Facebook , twitter
Military censorship:
 To keep secret as secret.(technologies and methods used in military)
Political censorship:
 Political parties should not influence the uneducated peoples by creating negative
thoughts on the Rulers.
Religious censorship:
 Countries like Pakistan doesn’t belong to a single religion, in those countries religious
advertisements must be blocked.
Corporate censorship:
 The workers log must be monitored to avoid unwanted usages.
Self-censorship:
 The act of censoring or classifying one's own discourse. This is done out of fear of,
or deference to, the sensibilities or preferences (actual or perceived) of others and
without overt pressure from any specific party or institution of authority. Self-
censorship is often practiced by film producers, film directors, publishers, news
anchors, journalists, musicians, and other kinds of authors including individuals
who use social media.

5. Merits of Censorship
 Censorship can help to avoid panic
 Can help to avoid the spread of fake news
 Censorship can keep the local population under control
 Politically correct behavior is encouraged
 Protection of sensitive information
 Can be important for military operations
 The current system can be sustained
 Censorship can make sense in the context of patents
 Lower level of conflict between the general public
 Censorship can make sense to protect our children
 Social media censorship can help to protect users
Demerits of Censorship
 Censorship takes away a significant level of freedom from people
 Religion is often misused to promote censorship
 May lead to a flawed perception of reality
 People will often have a quite narrow horizon
 Education may suffer due to censorship
 May conflict with human rights privacy issue
 Censorship can lead to the discrimination of minorities
 Can also be harmful in an economic context
 Spread of information is slowed down
 Can slow down technological progress
 Small elites can govern a country
 Censorship can adversely affect the values of a society
 Freedom of speech is confined
 Tensions between countries
 Censorship can lead to unpleasant political outcomes
 International trade may suffer from censorship
 Censorship can be used for political goals and manipulation

6. Censorship in Pakistan
Overview:
Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country. Hence, it has several pro-Muslim
laws in its Constitution. Freedom House ranked Pakistan 134th out of 196
countries in its 2010 Freedom of the Press Survey. Pakistan's score was 61
on a scale from 1 (most free) to 100 (least free), which earned a status of
"not free". Reporters without Borders put Pakistan 145 out of the 180
countries ranked in its 2020 Press Freedom Index. A previous report by RSF
in 2010 named Pakistan as one of "ten countries where it is not good to be
a journalist". It said: in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Mexico,
countries either openly at war or in a civil war or some other kind of
internal conflict, we see a situation of permanent chaos and a culture of
violence and impunity taking root in which the press has become a favorite
target. These are among the most dangerous countries in the world, and
the belligerents there pick directly on reporters. And the "Close-up on Asia"
section of the same report goes on to say: In Afghanistan and in Pakistan
Islamist groups bear much of the responsibility for their country's pitifully
low ranking. Suicide bombings and abductions make working as a journalist
an increasingly dangerous occupation in this area of South Asia. And the
State has not slackened its arrests of investigative journalists, which
sometimes more closely resemble kidnappings. Newspapers, television, and
radio are regulated by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority
(PEMRA), which occasionally halts broadcasts and closes media outlets.
Publication or broadcast of “anything which defames or brings into ridicule
the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative

7. or judicial organs of the state,” as well as any broadcasts deemed to be
“false or baseless” can bring jail terms of up to three years, fines of up to 10
million rupees (US$165,000), and license cancellation. The Blasphemy law
can bring fines and prison sentences of up to three years, while defiling the
Quran requires imprisonment for life, and defaming Muhammad requires a
death sentence. While some journalists practice self-censorship, a wide
range of privately owned daily and weekly newspapers and magazines
provide diverse and critical coverage of national affairs. The government
controls the Pakistan Television (PTV) and Radio Pakistan, the only free-to-
air broadcast outlets with a national reach, and predictably coverage
supports official viewpoints. Private radio stations operate in some major
cities, but are prohibited from broadcasting news programming. At least 25
private all-news cable and satellite television channels such as Geo, ARY,
Aaj, and Dawn, some of which broadcast from outside the country provide
domestic news coverage, commentary, and call-in talk shows. International
television and radio broadcasts are usually available, with the important
exception of a complete blockade of Indian television news channels.
Authorities sometimes exert control over media content through unofficial
“guidance” to newspaper editors on placement of stories or topics than
may be covered. It is not unheard of to pay for favorable press coverage, a
practice that is exacerbated by the low salary levels of many journalists.
The government continues to restrict and censor some published material.
Foreign books need to pass government censors before being reprinted.
Books and magazines can be imported freely, but are subject to censorship
for objectionable sexual or religious content. Obscene literature, a category
the government defines broadly, is subject to seizure. Showing Indian films
in Pakistan was banned starting with the 1965 war between the two
countries until 2008 when the ban was partially lifted.

8. History:
On 22 April 2007 PEMRA threatened the private television channel Aaj TV
with closure for airing news, talk shows, and other programs that discussed
the then current judicial crisis. PEMRA warned all private TV channels not
to air programs casting aspersions on the judiciary or on the “integrity of
the armed forces of Pakistan”, as well as content which would encourage
and incite violence, contained anything against the maintenance of law and
order, or which promoted anti-national or anti-state attitudes. During
March 2009 demonstrations demanding the reinstatement of Chief Justice
Iftikhar Chaudhry, authorities temporarily shut down the cable service of
Geo TV and Aaj TV in cities around the country. In October 2009 four
television news channels were blocked for several hours in the wake of a
terrorist attack on the army headquarters in October 2009. In 2009
conditions for reporters covering the ongoing conflict in the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and parts of North West Frontier Province
(NWFP) were particularly difficult, as correspondents were detained,
threatened, expelled, or otherwise prevented from working, either by the
Taliban and local tribal groups or by the army and intelligence services.
Following the takeover of the Swat Valley by Islamic militants, cable
television broadcasting was banned. During two major military offensives
during the year against Taliban-affiliated militants in the Swat Valley in April
and the South Waziristan tribal area in October reporters faced bans on
access, pressure to report favorably on the offensives, and dozens of local
journalists were forced to flee the area. In August 2009, the Daily Asaap,
Baluchistan’s widely circulated Urdu-language newspaper, suspended
publication, citing harassment from the security forces. Two other
newspapers in Baluchistan, Daily Baluchistan Express and Daily Azadi, also
reported harassment by security forces. In October 2009, PEMRA directed
15 FM radio stations to stop carrying British Broadcasting Corporation
programs for "violation of the terms and conditions of their license". During
2010 journalists were killed and subjected to physical attack, harassment,

9. intimidation, and other forms of pressure, including: On July 7, the Taliban
threw a grenade at the home of Din News television reporter Imran Khan in
Bajaur, FATA, injuring eight members of his family. He and his sister had
been hospitalized earlier for injuries sustained in a kidnapping attempt. On
July 22, Sarfraz Wistro, the chief reporter of the Daily Ibrat newspaper, was
attacked and beaten unconscious by five men near his home in Hyderabad,
Sindh.
On September 4, Umar Cheema —the senior member of the investigation cell of a
leading media group, The News—was abducted and taken to an unknown
location, where he was blindfolded and beaten, had his hair shaved off his head,
and was hung upside down and tortured. His abductors threatened more torture
if "he didn't mend his ways" and told him the editor of investigations, Ansar
Abbassi, would be next. He was dropped outside of Islamabad six hours later.
Cheema went public with the abuse, and The News covered his abduction in
detail in print, as did television channels. Police filed a case immediately against
the accused, the government formed a joint investigation team to probe the
incident, and the Lahore High Court took notice of the case. As of year's end, and
after nearly four months of investigation, the team had not issued any conclusive
findings.
On September 14, journalist Misri Khan was killed in Hangu District, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, by militants from the TTP, who claimed that "he twisted facts
whenever we gave him any reports" and "leaned towards the army."
On September 16, journalist Mujeebur Rehman Saddiqui, a Daily Pakistan
correspondent, was killed by gunmen in Dargai, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On November 18, the body of journalist Lala Hameed Baloch, who had
been kidnapped in late October, was found along with the body of a second
journalist, Hameed Ismail, with gunshot wounds outside of Turbat,
Balochistan Province. Baloch's family, local journalists and the Pakistan
Federal Union of Journalists believed that he was seized by security officials
and targeted for his political activism.

10. Censorship according to journalists and politicians
Suhail warraich Senior Journalist
When the state imposes restriction, it seeks artificial support an escape
from reality. Only freedom can make a state authentic. Where there are
restrictions the structure and even foundation of the state is unnatural.
Certain subjects have become taboo here such as, institutions are a key
example. They are beyond criticism and discussion. This is not good for
state institutions either. There is no oversight by the people, Parliament or
state. In a way they are the master and we, their slaves’ .This relationship is
not tenable.
Wajahat Masood Senior journalist
Journalists are connected to events that take place .When the state limits
the voice of a journalist it means the state wants to hide reality from its
citizens. It doesn’t want to be informed if they are informed they will be
empowered and able to make better decisions. Censorship is like throwing
dust into their eyes.
Attaullah Tarar Deputy Secretary General PMLN
If the freedom of expression accorded by the Constitution is curbed so all
other rights become meaningless .What is censored becomes more visible.
Those who matter must understand that if we stop censoring and let
matters be discussed openly there will be a counter-argument that leads to
healthy debate and brings all kinds of opinions into the open. This reduces
the sense of suffocation in society which ultimately benefits the state and
government.
Bushra Gohar Politicion
There is practically and undeclared martial law in Pakistan. All political
parties, human rights activists, political activists, and journalists have
restrictions imposed on them. If anyone crosses what they call a red line
one that is determined by them, he or she will be in danger

11. What Does the Government of Pakistan Censor?
As a deeply religious state, the Pakistani government claims it is mostly
focused on censoring secular views and satire of Islam. Sometimes,
however, the reason for a ban or limitation on the internet is actually more
likely to be political.
Pornography
Pornography remains illegal in Pakistan and, as of 2022, the Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has taken steps to block access to over
150,000 websites and pages that contain “salacious content.” The
government also blocks most porn-related subreddits on platforms like
Reddit. A report by the PTA to the Pakistani Supreme Court shows that a list
of 400,000 additional links was handed over to ISPs (Internet Service
Providers) for censorship. However, the PTA has been unable to completely
censor these links, because of the expense involved for the ISPs.
Satire
Satirical comedy websites that are considered to challenge Islam or the
Pakistani government are subject to censorship by the PTA. The
government also often censors satirical websites that make fun of their
policies. Similarly, attempting to access the website of the French satirical
magazine Charlie Hebdo from inside Pakistan results in a redirection to a
message reading: “Surf Safely! The website is not accessible. The site you
are trying to access contains content that is prohibited for viewership
within Pakistan as per the law.”
Anti-Islamic content
One of the more high-profile cases of internet censorship in Pakistan was
the blocking of YouTube in response to the posting of the anti-Islamic video
“The Innocence of Muslims. “In January 2016, a localized version of
the YouTube platform, YouTube PK, became available. The
Pakistani government only agreed to the use of the localized

12. platform when Google agreed to allow takedown requests,
through a direct channel, to remove any “objectionable content.”
Of the 80,000 internet pages currently censored by the PTA and
Pakistani ISPs, around 25% of them are blocked in Pakistan
because they are critical of Islam or offend “Islamic mortality.” In
a high-profile case, anti-terrorism courts handed down a thirteen-
year prison sentence to Rizwan and Saqlain Haider for sharing
“hateful messages against the companions of the Prophet
Mohammed” on Facebook.
Social media platforms
There have been times when social media platforms have often
been banned in Pakistan. The NetBlocks Internet Observatory and
Digital Rights Foundation observed that the Pakistani government
blocked social media and content-sharing websites, including
Twitter and Facebook, in response to the violent Tehreek-e-Labaik
protests. All major Pakistani fixed-line and mobile service
providers put the restriction in place at the requests of the PTA,
and they restored access when the protests abated. This means
that, at the time of the blocks, citizens’ freedom of expression was
severely limited

13. Television programs
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a
notice to ask local television channels to "stop airing caress and hug
scenes" in dramas. They stated that some scenes in the dramas are against
the “commonly accepted standards of decency.”
It read, “In continuation to earlier directions of the Authority issued from
time to time wherein, it was conveyed that Satellite TV Channels are
indulged in airing objectionable dramas/ content based on indecent
dressing, caressing, bed scenes, & gestures, sensitive/ controversial plots
and unnecessary detailing of event(s), which are highly disturbing,
distressing for the viewers and against the commonly accepted standards
of decency.”
The notice further added, “A considerable stratum of the society believes
that dramas are not depicting true picture of Pakistani society. Hugs/ caress
scenes/ extramarital relations, vulgar/bold dressing, bed scenes and
intimacy of married couple are being glamorised in utter disregard to
Islamic teachings and culture of Pakistani society
Pakistani Dramas Banned by PEMRA in 2020

14. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has ordered a ban on the
repeat telecast of famous Pakistani dramas Pyar Ke Sadqay and Ishqiya.
PEMRA stated that the action taken due to their content is against our
social and religious values. PEMRA announced in a notice that they have
received many complaints against the drama Jalan and currently they are
looking on this matter. So here’s a List of Pakistani Dramas Banned by
PEMRA in 2020.
 Jalan (In the issued notice, PEMRA announced that they have
received many complaints against drama serial Jalan and they are
looking into this matter. Most of the complaints are about the main
storyline of the drama which is against our morals and cultural
values. )
 Pyar ke Sadqay(The reason behind the ban announced by
PEMRA is that the content of the dramas is against the teachings of
our society.)
 Ishqiya (The PERMA has announced to ban the repeat telecast of
the famous drama Ishqiya. The reason behind the ban is that the
content of the dramas is against the teachings of our Muslim
society.)
SamaaTV official tweet about the ban of dramas:
@reportpemra has banned the repeat telecast of drama serials #Ishqiya
and #PyarKeSadqay citing that the content of the dramas is against the
‘morals’ of society.
PEMRA is also reviewing complaints filed against ongoing drama series
#JALAN
https://samaa.tv/entertainment/2020/09/pemra-bans-repeat-telecast-of-
ishqiya-pyar-ke-sadqay/

15. Web Series Churails:
In Aug 2020, the first Pakistan web series drama
Churails was released and it was an instant hit. All the four leading ladies of
drama including Sarwat Gilani, Mehar Bano, Yasra Rizvi and Nimra Bucha
became the gleaming stars as their acting skills were highly appreciated by
the audience. The drama portrays four extreme women belonging to
entirely different backgrounds, united for a common cause. The aim is to
take revenge on the men responsible for their downfall and try to give
justice to all other women going through similar situations.
Audience really appreciated the story line and the concept of women
empowerment. Some people also raised their concerns about the web series but
overall it was a big hit.
Why was Churails Banned in Pakistan?
Couple of days ago an unethical statement from Hina Khawaja Bayat one of
leading actress of drama Churails went Viral in which she is talking about her way
to success which was really not a thing that anyone wants to hear on the national
Television.
A lot of people show their quick response against the clip. PEMRA took immediate
decision to ban the Churails in Pakistan. There is no statement from India on this
issue. But# Churail goes viral on twitter Pakistan. Some audiences are in favor of
the drama and some are against.

16. Films
Pakistani films:
Pakistan started banning films since 1962, with restrictions tightened in 1979
when Muhammad Zia ul-Haq implemented an Islamization agenda and an even
stricter censorship code.[1] A ban on Indian films and media (which was not
always strictly enforced) was lifted in 2008, with the compromise that cinemas in
Pakistan must equally share screening time between Indian and Pakistani films
Pakistani movies that got banned:
1 Jago Hua Sawera (1959)
2 Kartar Singh (1959)
3 Jibon Theke Neya (1970)
4 Insaan Aur Ghadha (1973)
5 The Blood of Hussain (1980)
6 Mela (1986)
7 Maula Jutt (1980)
8 Maalik (2016)
Why are Bollywood and Hollywood films banned in Pakistan?
A representative of the film's Pakistani distributor said, “Censor boards in
Islamabad and Karachi have decided to ban the film because it portrays a negative
image of Muslims and the negative characters in the film also have Muslim
names.”

17. Date Movie Name Film Industry
2006 The Da Vinci Code Hollywood
2010 Lahore Bollywood
2010 Tere Bin Laden Bollywood
2011 Slackistan Independent
2011 The Dirty Picture Bollywood
2011 Delhi Belly Bollywood
2012 Khiladi 786 Bollywood
2012 Ek Tha Tiger Bollywood
2012 Agent Vinod Bollywood
2013 Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Bollywood
2013 Raanjhanaa Bollywood
2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Hollywood
2014 Children of War Bollywood
2014 Haider Bollywood
2014 Noah Hollywood
2015 Calendar Girls Bollywood
2015 Phantom Bollywood
2015 Baby Bollywood
2015 Bangistan Bollywood
2016 Dishoom Bollywood
2016 Udta Punjab Bollywood
2016 Shivaay Bollywood
2016 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Bollywood
2016 Neerja Bollywood
2016 Ambarsariya Bollywood
2017 Viceroy's House British
2017 Tubelight Bollywood
2017 Tiger Zinda Hai Bollywood
2017 Dangal Bollywood
2017 Jolly LLB 2 Bollywood
2017 Raees Bollywood
2018 Pad Man Bollywood
2018 Pari Bollywood
2018 Raazi Bollywood
2018 Gold Bollywood
2018 Veere Di Wedding Bollywood
2018 Mulk Bollywood
2018 Aiyaary Bollywood
2018 Race 3 Bollywood
2018 Parmanu Bollywood
2019-Present
Since February 2019, Pakistan has banned the screening of all Indian films in
retaliation to the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by the
Indian government pertaining to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir

18. Internet
The OpenNet Initiative listed Internet filtering in Pakistan as substantial in the
social and conflict/security areas, as selective in the Internet tools area, and as
suspected in the political area in December 2010.In late 2010 Pakistanis enjoyed
generally unimpeded access to most sexual, political, social, and religious content
on the Internet. Although the Pakistani government does not employ a
sophisticated blocking system, a limitation which has led to collateral blocks on
entire domains such as Blogspot.com and YouTube.com, it continues to block
websites containing content it considers to be blasphemous, anti-Islamic, or
threatening to internal security. Pakistan has blocked access to websites critical of
the government or the military. In 2019, The National Assembly Standing
Committee on Information Technology and Telecom was informed by Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) that 900,000 URLs were blocked in Pakistan
for "reasons such as carrying blasphemous and pornographic content and/or
sentiments against the state, judiciary or the armed forces."
Reasons to censor the internet
The motivation behind internet censorship in Pakistan can be attributed to one of
two factors:
 They wish to maintain the moral standard of the state religion by banning
any content that offends it.
 They wish to silence political dissent by not allowing any critique on the
actions of the government or security services. In recent years, the PTA
(Pakistan Telecommunications Authority) has also moved to block
censorship circumvention tools, such as proxies and VPNs. The government
of Pakistan wants to block these services because they allow people to
navigate the internet freely, without intelligence agencies being able to
keep a tab on them.

19. Pakistan’s journalists operate in a climate of fear
10 journalists were killed, and 58 were kidnapped, tortured, injured, arrested or detained in Pakistan last year alone
The long list of attacked or murdered journalists in Pakistan continues to grow
with the latest kidnapping and assault of Karachi Bureau Chief Faheem Siddiqui of
TV news channels Geo News in late July. Plain clothes armed policemen pulled
over the journalist in what he believed to be a routine security check but instead,
they corralled him, beat him and ditched him, hands tied, 40 km away near the
Hub Dam on the outskirts of Karachi.
A year earlier, Pakistan’s most popular anchorman, Hamid Mir of Karachi-based
Geo TV, was on his way to work when gunmen riddled his car with bullets, six of
which lodged into his body. He now drives to and from work in a bulletproof car
and refuses to answer his phone unless he knows the caller.
Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle shot dead Karak Times reporter Ayub
Khattak outside his home in October 2013, the seventh killed that year according
to Pakistan-based media and development watchdog Freedom Network (FN)
Bureau Chief for Asia Times Online Saleem Shahzad’s beaten body was found
dumped in a canal on the outskirts of the Punjab village of Mandibaha in May
2011, two days after he filed a report that allegedly linked Al-Qaeda and the
Pakistani Navy. His case sparked a public outcry and a Judicial Commission that
led now here. “The Pakistani authorities must end the impunity for the only too
frequent physical attacks on journalists,” said Benjamin Ismail, the head of the
Reporters without Borders (RWB) Asia-Pacific desk. “We urge them to carry out
proper investigations and to bring those responsible for crimes of violence against
journalists to justice”. Pakistan's dismal ranking on RWB's World Press Freedom
Index 2015, which classifies the country as “one of the world’s deadliest countries
for journalists,” prompted the federal government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
to investigate. Pakistani Minister for Interior and Narcotics Chaudhry Nisar Ali
Khan introduced the investigation's findings to the National Assembly at the 24th

20. session of Parliament with initial comments on Pakistan's ranking: “This appears
to be an exaggeration and based on improper understanding of the situation on
ground. The organization [Reporters without Borders] has done so without taking
into consideration the peculiar circumstances prevailing in the country owing to
the ongoing war on terror. ”The government has reaffirmed its resolve to take all
necessary measures to ensure speedy investigation of all cases involving attacks
on journalists and media-persons,” Minister Ali Khan told the Parliament. He
added: “The government is fully committed to upholding freedom of expression
in the country and the Press and Media enjoy absolute freedom. The government
attaches a high degree of importance to freedom and independence of media as a
necessary ingredient of a democratic society.” Minister Ali Khan proceeded to list
a number of “preventative measures” taken to secure the safety of journalists
including a mobile phone panic alert system that dials into a dedicated helpline
where media workers can register complaints with the National Crisis
Management. Though the alert system functions primarily in Islamabad, they
expect to roll out the system nationwide. “I am not satisfied with his answer,”
Member Parliament Sheikh Salahuddin from Karachi told FN. “There is no press
freedom in Pakistan as journalists is dictated to work. “I contacted RWB for
comment on Minister Ali Khan's remarks to the National Assembly but no one
was available. According to research Pakistan's Federal Government released on 2
August 2015, 46 journalists were killed, injured and/or kidnapped in the last five
years. But according to FN's State of the Media in Pakistan Key Findings of 2014
and Challenges in 2015 Report, 10 journalists were killed and 58 journalists were
kidnapped, tortured, injured, arrested, detained and/or intimidated in 2014
alone. Only two cases of slain journalists have led to criminal convictions to date
since 2000, according to Committee to Protect Journalists, Pakistan ranks 158 out
of 180 on the RWB World Press Freedom Index 2015, and has recorded 64
Pakistani journalists killed due to their to their journalistic activities in the last
decade.

21. Proposed Pakistan Law Seeks Greater Control of Media
As part of its crackdown on freedom of expression, the Pakistani
government is seeking sweeping new powers to control the media.
Journalists across Pakistan have raised the alarm about proposed legislation
that would augment the powers of the Pakistan Electronic Media
Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and allow it to access human resources data
at independent media houses. PEMRA has long been the enforcer of the
government’s intensifying campaign of censorship and repression of the
media. It has ordered television channels to shut down for airing criticism
of the government, terminated live interviews of opposition leaders, and
blocked cable operators from broadcasting networks that aired critical
programs. On January 25, the government introduced a bill in the Senate to
give PEMRA new powers to obtain employee records and contracts,
asserting the move will protect the right of journalists to be paid. But given
that PEMRA has been the government’s primary instrument of media
censorship, these claims ring hollow.
Pakistan’s opposition-controlled Senate has rejected the bill, with Senator
Sherry Rehman criticizing PEMRA for trying to use a “backdoor” to gain
further control over the already stifled media. But the fight is not over.
Pakistan’s media outlets fear that the government may simply decree the
new law, or try to push the bill through the National Assembly, where it has
a majority, before resubmitting to the Senate after elections to take place
in the coming weeks.
Journalists are entitled to adequate and timely wages. And the government
should ensure this by enforcing labor laws and protections. But few in the
media would want the same agency that has pressured them to fire
prominent journalists who criticized the government to now have direct
access to and control over human resource departments. The PEMRA law
needs to be amended -- not to grant it more unchecked powers, but to
make it an independent media regulator dedicated to protecting free
expression. With journalists under relentless attack for doing their jobs, the
Pakistan government needs to stop trying to control reporters and instead
start protecting them and their right to free expression.

22. Need for transparency and responsibility
In the event of a dispute, the PTA has the right to unilaterally decide to hide
information suppress those Issues that should be discussed and block an entire
online information system such as Facebook YouTube and Twitter and fine it up to
500 million rupees (2.5 million euros).Worse still, the regulations give the federal
and provincial governments and, in particular, Pakistan’s various intelligence
agencies, the power to ask the PTA to have content removed or accounts blocked.
And when this happens, the identity of the authority or agency requesting the
censorship remains a secret. “It is perfectly understandable for a government to
try to regulate online platform content in order, for example, to prevent hate
speech or calls for violence, but this type of regulation must be done in a
transparent and responsible manner,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-
Pacific desk. “In their current form, the regulations proposed by the Pakistani
government include every possible legal pitfall including extremely vague
definitions, the provision of absolute powers to the government and a lack of
legal recourse for those targeted. We call on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s
government to amend these regulations without delay so as to incorporate strong
safeguards for the freedom to provide news and information.”
ARTICLE 19 OF CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN 1973 FREEDOM OF
SPEECH
Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression and their
Shall be freedom of the press subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by
law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of
Persistent or any part thereof, friendly relation with foreign states, public order,
decency or molarity, or in relation to Contempt of court, or incitement to an
offense.

23. Conclusion:
Censorship is a phenomenon which has a very important role in today's world.
Supposedly censorship is for the good of people, but for example, hiding
information of what is really happening in your country is not the right thing to
do. There are 2 ways to use each item, either good or bad. This is exactly how
censorship is used by the authorities. If it is used positively, it will have good
results otherwise the result will not be good. There always has been a stereotype
of censorship. Since its Inception this country has been ruled by insecure fearful
governments the administration at every level is apprehensive about its own
stability and fears rebellion. It wants nothing to disturb the status quo. Here
censorship is used to suppress those issues that should be discussed .When you
don't discuss an issue for 75 years it keeps growing and becomes a jungle of
problem. We have to face the bitter truth eventually. One generation will have to
face it. Every generation wants to pass what we call revolution, or change onto
the next generation. We cannot change the status quo. One generation has to
make a sacrifice so why not my generation? Why not us? We'll make the sacrifice.
But don't be afraid. Because when you're afraid, you don't feel at home in your
own house.

24. References:
• Theodor Porutiu, view 11april2022, Censorship in Pakistan, https://vpnoverview.com
/unblocking/censorship/internet-censorship-Pakistan
• Patricia Gossman, January 28 2021, HUMAN RIGHT WATCH, hrw.org/news/2021/01/28/proposed-
pakistan-law-seeks-greater-control-media
• Ummara Sheraz, Jan 4, 2019 Lens, https://propakistani.pk/lens/these-are-all-the-pakistani-films-that-
got-banned/
• https://environmental-conscience.com/censorship-pros-cons/
•http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/censorship
• RSF, 2021Another attempt by Pakistan’s government to censor social media
https://rsf.org/en/news/another-attempt-pakistans-government-censor-social-media
• Aleena, October 12, 2020 , Showbiz Fashion Pakistan https://showbizfashion.pk/Pakistani-dramas-
banned-by-pemra-2020/
• Andreas© 2020 - 2022 All Rights Reserved | Global Awareness UG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship, https://www.britannica.com/topic/censorship
•https://www.aclu.org/other/what-censorship
•https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/censorship
@persmuseum.nlask@iisg.nlCensorship!http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/censorship/
• International Federation of Journalists https://www.ifj.org/media
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Pakistan
• Anne Mortensen, Wednesday 19 August 2015, Independent,
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/pakistan-s-journalists-operate-in-a-climate-of-fear-
10462602.html?amp
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDM3WHF_1XM&list=WL&index=11&t=644s
•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Pakistan#Internet