by: Sadia Mustafa
Chained Expression: A Tapestry of Freedom in Pakistan
Freedom of expression is globally recognized as the foundation of human rights, which are protected by
a multitude of regional and international treaties, charters, and frameworks. The freedom of expression
is guaranteed to Pakistani people under Article 19 of the Constitution. It is the State’s responsibility to
guarantee that every person can freely exercise this right in accordance with the constitution and
international agreement; nevertheless, Pakistan has a dismal record of defending its citizens’ right to
free speech. Pakistan’s history is impregnated with long stretches of authoritarianism that severely
restricted political discourse and media freedom. These information and opinion restrictions took on a
regulatory role throughout democratic administrations. People are deterred from openly expressing
their thoughts by criminal legislation because they fear being prosecuted, especially journalists and
human rights campaigners.
Individual thought formation is non-existent in a nation like Pakistan where restrictions on freedom of
speech exist. Instead, the nation is a collective mind that does not allow for the formation of novel
viewpoints. Laws are crucial for controlling the right to free speech because they penalize non-violent
speakers while providing prominent offenders with impunity.
The federal government is engaged in the appointment of the members of the Internet regulator PTA
and the broadcast media regulator PEMRA, as well as in presenting them with legally enforceable policy
directions. These regulatory bodies are not entirely independent. Additionally, the regulators must obey
the law when it comes to accepting the government’s determination of whether a certain issue falls
within policy.
Arshad Sharif is one heartbreaking example of expressing one’s opinions. Sharif supported previous
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was removed in April following a no-confidence vote in
parliament, and was a critic of the country’s armed forces. His relatives and friends claim that because of
Sharif’s outspoken criticism of the present government, he made a lot of enemies and eventually left the
country out of fear for his life. The oppressors had shot him to death. An egregious act of aristocracy is
to silence someone. As John Stuart Mill says, “If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only
one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one
person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.”
A well-known citizen journalist in Balochistan was among the eight media practitioners that died in the
course of the year. Thirty-two cases of intimidation and threats, at least two significant cases of
abductions, and at least 36 cases of physical attacks and assaults, including acts of torture, were recorded by media watchdogs. After being absent for two months, the body of journalist Sajid Hussain
was discovered in the Swedish city of Uppsala. Despite the worries of Reporters without Borders
regarding possible foul play, the Swedish prosecuting authorities discontinued a preliminary murder
inquiry into Hussain’s death in July, stating that they were no longer suspicious of any journalistic
crimes.
Women do not have the right to free expression in Pakistan, which is another patriarchal nation. The
idea that the majority of families worldwide still adhere to patriarchal values, in which men determine
all norms and expectations for women, is a worrying and enduring mystery. Including philosophy,
religion, law, and literature, all fields of knowledge have been dominated by man. It is said that the
ladies are timid, shy, and sensitive, and that the males are valiant, intelligent, and energetic. Women are
oppressed in their homes as well as in the vital institutions of society. The laws of each caste, class,
community, and religion are used by patriarchy to subjugate women.
The freedom of expression and information access guaranteed by the constitution should be explicitly
acknowledged by the Parliament in Pakistan on the Internet. In order to ascertain the extent, goals,
nature, and method for limiting access to online information, the government ought to revoke the
regulations governing online content regulation and start a new consultation process with respectable
stakeholders. PEMRA ought to abstain from employing the broadcasting code and its license conditions
as means of control. When it comes to broadcast regulation, the lawmakers ought to investigate a co-
regulatory strategy. In addition to bringing openness through the creation of an electronic complaints
management system that allows the public to track the status of their grievances, the FIA is required to
provide Parliament with performance reports on a regular basis.
Contact: sadiamustafa62@gmail.com
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