impact of Regime ON Private Media Behavior in Pakistan
1.
2. Impact of Regime on Private Media Behavior
in Pakistan: Comparative Analysis of
Musharraf and PML (N) Regimes.
Submitted By: Danish Iftikhar
MPhil Peace and Conflict Studies
3. ABSTRACT
Media with specific reference to the collection of newspaper industry, electronic, print and all types of social networks play a significant
role in the development and growth of any country. Media platforms like electronic, print and social networks are considered as the voice
of the people.
Pakistan has gone through a dark period of dictatorship when government does not consider private and national media and press as a
distinct entity and have never cared about the value these media can play in the growth of our country. Pakistan has also experienced
different democratic regimes basically ruled by two prominent political parties of Pakistan naming PPP and Muslim League-N. founder
of Pakistan People’s Party was Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto which was later run by her daughter Benazir Bhutto (Late). This thesis has elaborated
that how press and media freedom has been affected by the dictatorship and democratic policies of different regimes The basic focus of
this research is the difference between the media and press policies of specifically Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf.
4. INTRODUCTION
Mass media has become the primary source of communication today. Media is one of the
major components of a democratic country, which is formed on the basis of a populace
government, where the people rule and their selected government reigns. The bridle is in the
hands of the public directly and command is in their selected members of the
government. Mass media comprises of Electronic media including Radio, internet and
television, while print media encompasses newspaper, journals, magazines, pamphlets, etc.
Media has some principals, firstly, it needs to be free from political and any other form of
pressure. Secondly, it must not be bias or polarized. And lastly, it must be mature,
regularized and monitored by government regulatory body. Electronic or print media serves
to provide the public with truth and aims to secure the best interest for the general.
In Pakistan, right to freedom of expression and speech had been recognized by the
Constitutions of 1956 and 1962. The 1973 Constitution of Pakistan includes a specific
premise (Article 19) on freedom of expression and speech. Right to information was
recognized and acknowledged as a constitutional right through Eighteenth Amendment in
2010 under the government of Pakistan People’s Party.
5. right to information was recognized and acknowledged as a constitutional right through Eighteenth Amendment in 2010
under the government of Pakistan People’s Party. Media is an essential part of democracy, but democracy is also
dependent on media. Musharraf regime was a dictatorship which only means to imply the will of a single or few
ruling bodies or elites. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz cogged up to operate the command of the country. A
democratic status-co political entity largely supported by the media as a hope for change and transfusion in media
liberties.
The Pakistani media markets had experienced massive growth from 2013 onwards with an enlargement in its landscape,
economically bourgeoned, and heavily increased in audience. The data shared by Gallup Pakistan in 2018, claims that
top ten newspapers have an audience tally of 86%. The top 4 newspaper has audience of 70%, while the rest 6 in line
has only 16% of the audience. So as for the TV channels, where the top 4 channels of broadcasting have 55% of the
audience. While the next in line 6 channels had 25% of the audience.
6. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The basic discussion that has been added to this research thesis is that how and why
different governments change the media policies and either this has been done for their
own benefits? What is the difference between the dictator and democratic government
media policies and where the media policies of Nawaz Sharif and Pervaiz Musharraf
differ from each other? Moreover, the basic problem under discussion is that which
government (Nawaz or Musharraf) proved to be more difficult for the press and
electronic media and how?
7. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• To study and entail the role of democratic and dictator regime in deteriorating or
bourgeoning the freedom of print and electronic media and sustaining or demolishing the
self-right of free expression and freedom of speech from which others are secure
• To highlight all the restrictions sanctioned by Pervez Musharraf on the media and how
his regime’s media policies are different from Nawaz Sharif’s tenure
• To understand the power political role of the governments under the tenures of Gen.
Pervez Musharraf onwards 1999 and PML (N) from 2013 to 2018
What were the aftermaths on media after upside downing dictatorship from the country?
Is media the only tool to pressurize the democratic governments or to direct them to
path of the right?
• How Pervez Musharraf has transformed media and promoted modern Islam?
8. Hypothesis Statement
“As compared to Nawaz Shareef, the dictatorship tenure of Pervaiz
Musharraf proved to be more difficult for the press and electronic media
due to excessive censorship and strict media policies.”
9. Theoretical Framework
There are various media theories that effectively elaborate how does the press and media can be affected by
the political conditions and ruling party’s policies at that time.
Vroom-Yetton Decision Model
Normative Media Theory
The Four Theories of Media
11. METHODOLOGY
• The methodology adapted in this study is mainly descriptive, comprehensive, systematic
as well as prognostic in nature.
• The study generally uses qualitative tools of data gathering from commonly secondary
sources. Like books, academic journals, articles, government reports, working credentials
by policy research hubs, and works of renowned writers and experts.
• Qualitative research tool: Detailed interviews from media people
• Findings and Results through Thematic Analysis of interviews
12. LITERATURE REVIEW
Impact of Dictatorship government on Media
Anti-democratic leaders have been deteriorating media freedom to express across the
globe since few decades
Giving Birth to Propaganda Machinery
General banned the media on the 3rd of November, Various tv agencies and
broadcasting channels received show cause notices
During Zia rule, media had to face tremendous censorship and under subsequent
military rules, the regulations and implications upon media kept on increasing
Musharraf used media for his own benefit and tried to turn channels in his own favor
during the chief minister dismissal days
13. • Nawaz Sharif’s Government Attempts to Safeguard the Lives of Media People
• Nawaz government decided to empower the media by practicing politics of inclusion rather than exclusion
• PPP or Muslim League have given complete freedom to the media while dictator regime used press and media to propagate their individual interests and spread
negativity against the opposition among people through their negative coverage policy
• Musharraf tried to suppress the voice of media, channel and newspaper against the government, state or armed forces either by cancelling their license or by giving
the owners imprisonment.
• Democratic government of Nawaz Sharif also tried to introduce training workshops to make journalists and media people learn and understand the significance of
these media platforms and can use them effectively through authentic and positive reporting
• Lot of Journalists and TV anchors were kidnapped or lost their lives during Musharraf regime due to his strict media policies
• Nawaz Shareef ceased banning policy of a dictator and gave leniency to the private media channels and newspaper industry.
• .
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NAWAZ SHAREEF AND MUSHARRAF REGIME
14. Thematic Analysis of the Qualitative Research
Theme # 1: Dictatorship Policies are not Favorable for Press and Private Media
The interviewees claimed that Musharraf was the very first and only president of Pakistan who treated
press and media as one of the building pillars of this country and tried to do some favor for these media.
But alas, later incidents have shown that Musharraf’s censorship policies were very strict and after giving
freedom to the media and press, he rusticated all the rights of these two institutes for his own interest.
Theme # 2: Democracy is the only Survivor of Private Media Freedom
According to the interviewees, although Nawaz Sharif has not introduced any new and remarkable policies
for the media but his permission to telecast every kind of programs on private channels and upholding ban
from different press and media groups have marked Nawaz regime as one of the better times for the press
and media in Pakistan. Interviewees agreed that whatever be the strict policies of democratic government,
but still, they will conclude democratic regime as the best government for the growth and uplift of social,
press and electronic media.
Theme # 3: Power of Media Freedom and its Pressures on Democratic Government
Interviewees were quite positive towards the democratic policies for press and media and want the current
government to bring progressive reforms to the existing rights of both broadcasting platforms. An overall
impression extracted from the interviews taken from the media and press professionals have depicted that
Nawaz Sharif regime was better than any previous dictator regime especially from Musharraf’s
government.
15. Conclusion
Pakistan has been under dictatorship rule for more than half of its history and democracy is still looking for developing firm and
extended roots in this country. Media and press are considered as the most effective platform where public can address and record
their basic issues and problems in life so that they can get the eye of government and higher authorities. Continuous dictatorship
regime has trespassed the freedom and right to raise their voice against injustice and inequality at the local and national level.
Media and press have always become a victim of the strict policies induced by some of the democratic and almost all dictator
government.
Deep analysis of Musharraf government and his censorship and banning policies have revealed that no matter how progressive
and advanced approach a dictator government holds but they also possess the power to sabotage the identity of any institute and
have enough strengths to suppress the growth of media and press in the long run.
It has been proved that our hypothesis for this research study is valid which stated that,
“As compared to Nawaz Shareef, the dictatorship tenure of Pervaiz Musharraf proved to be more difficult for the press and
electronic media due to excessive censorship and strict media policies.”
16. • Nawaz Sharif's attempts to cease banning policy of a dictator and gave leniency to the private media channels and
newspaper industry proved him as a better option for the country.
• Nawaz Shareef won over Musharraf by allowing private media and press to give thorough coverage to PTI’s dharna
activities.
• Open mindedness of democratic government of Nawaz Sharif has helped this government in securing the loyalties of
different media and news- paper groups
• Whatever be the circumstances and policies, democratic government is always good for the well-being of every
institution of the country in the long run.
17. Recommendation for Future Research
Detailed interviews should be taken from more relevant media people who are well-renowned because their experience and
perception about both kind of governments and their connection with press and media can be availed
A close comparison should also be focused and made between the different approaches of democratic regime that have
ruled over Pakistan till date
For an extensive research, a global comparison of dictatorship and democratic regime and their media and press policies
should be discussed in later researches
Press and Media policies should be discussed under the specific media Acts so that information collected should be more
valid and authentic
The caliber of primary research can be extended by adding more professionals to the interview process
Further research should expose the key media players who have the capability to transform the press and media policies and
improvise the overall information and broadcasting system in Pakistan.
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