A leading Western media house has published a documentary on alleged curbs on media freedom in Pakistan besides raising concerns on the transparency of general elections in Pakistan. The documentary has received widespread criticism on being frivolous and biased. Since it relies heavily on the perspectives of people, who are known for their anti-Government views.
The documentary’s depiction of the Pakistani Government restricting press freedom and prohibiting neutral media coverage during the Elections, is at the heart of the criticism. Government officials have angrily refuted the charges, claiming that they did not interfere with the journalists’ work and respected the ideals of free expression.
The documentary includes interviews with infamous social media influencers and dissident voices like Imran Riaz Khan, Asad Toor, Mian Ashfaq, Jawaria Siddique, Iman Zainab Mazari, and Siddique Jan. These individuals are well-known for peddling a divisive narrative about Pakistan and its institutions. Moreover, individuals such as Jack Morris and Masood Khan of same media house, also get recognized behind the scenes for their nefarious contributions. Morris is accused of having ulterior objectives, whilst Khan is accused of spreading beliefs that contradict Pakistan’s founding ideals.
Imran Riaz Khan, a significant character in the documentary, has often been seen attempting to slander Pakistan and its security agencies. Despite prior accusations of being kidnapped or killed by intelligence organizations, Khan suddenly resurfaced without telling the secret that who abducted him. He now leads a lavish lifestyle. This anomaly has raised questions regarding the authenticity of his previous remarks and objectives. This also puts in suspicion the amount of length certain individuals can go to for fame and money. They can slander and malign security agencies at very crucial points in time and only for their personnel petty gains.
Similarly, Asad Toor, who is currently involved in judicial processes, continues to criticize the Pakistani Government for his interests. Two other people featured in the documentary, Iman Mazari and Jawaria Siddique, complained about the torture and abuse in Pakistani prisons. However, investigations yielded no evidence to support allegations. Mian Ashfaq, another figure in the video, is accused of using an anti-state narrative for advancing his political ambitions, sidelining actual political workers. These people can best be portrayed as opportunists, who use controversial subjects to achieve popularity and political power. This isn’t the first time that a particular western media house has been accused of biased reporting against Pakistan. Previous articles by its writers such as Farhat Javed and Mohammad Haneef, were also condemned for unfavorable portrayal of Pakistan. It is an attempt carried out by external entities to not only pressurize Pakistan into certain political narratives but to undermine the progress Pakistan has made with the support of its Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs)
In the past, Mr Mubeen Azhar, journalist of same media house and his team brazenly attempted to trespass the premises of PTV and tried to harm PTV staff on 15 December 2023. That incident was a clear violation of an individual’s personal right to opinion and safety. The media house then without any authority carefully prevented the incident from coming up in mainstream media. Despite such provocations, Pakistan’s Government has maintained a policy of tolerance and independence toward the media.
The documentary has raised severe concerns about its trustworthiness and impartiality. This may convert into a catalyst towards downward trajectory of political stability in the country. At a time, when the country is dealing with a plethora of issues, overwhelming dependence on individuals with questionable agendas, as well as a lack of fair reporting, only impedes the process. It is critical to investigate such biased reporting and make journalists responsible for rash behavior. A small mistake, or an oversight can cost a nation an entire political tenure worth of instability.
