PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza flags media censorship in PoGB and PoJK on World Press Freedom Day
London Ma, y 4
PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza, while marking World Press Freedom Day, highlighted the situation of media freedom in Pakistan-occupied regions, Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling attention to what he described as the ongoing struggle of people living there.
In his message, Mirza said that the voices and concerns of people in these regions often remain overlooked, stressing that they are deprived not only of access to genuine and independent information but also of diverse viewpoints in local media. He alleged that opinion pages and editorial spaces do not accommodate perspectives that question the historical and political developments related to Jammu and Kashmir.
Mirza further claimed that the media landscape in these areas is tightly controlled by Pakistan's Press and Information Department (PID), a federal body based in Islamabad, which he said operates under the influence of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing. According to him, this control results in the publication of content that largely reflects pro-Pakistan narratives, while alternative or dissenting voices are excluded.
He also raised concerns about what he termed as indirect censorship, stating that the dependence of print media on government advertisements creates pressure to conform. Mirza noted that the fear of losing advertising revenue, a primary source of income for newspapers in these regions, leads to self-censorship among media outlets.
Pointing out the limited presence of electronic media, he said that the absence of local television channels makes print media the dominant source of information. However, he alleged that this dominance is being used as a tool to shape narratives and suppress counter-arguments, particularly on issues related to PoJK.
Mirza called for greater attention to the state of press freedom in these regions, urging the international community and media watchdogs to take note of the challenges faced by journalists and residents in accessing unbiased and independent information.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The point about government advertisements creating self-censorship is very real. Even in India, some local papers face similar pressure. But at least we have independent courts and vibrant opposition media. In PoJK, even that minimal freedom is crushed by PID and ISPR. Heartbreaking.
Mirza sahab is raising valid issues but I wonder how much the international community will care. Western media always talks about press freedom in India but silently ignores Pakistan's complete chokehold on PoJK media. Hypocrisy at its peak. 🙄
This is exactly why Pakistan can never win the narrative war. When you suppress all dissent, the truth eventually comes out through brave people like Mirza. The people of PoJK deserve the same rights as anyone else - including the right to read, question and choose their own news.
I feel sad for the journalists in PoGB and PoJK who risk their careers just to report truthfully. No local TV channels, no diverse opinion pages, just propaganda from PID and ISPR. Mirza's call for international attention is a cry for help from those suffocated regions.
While I sympathize with the struggle for press freedom in PoJK, I wish Mirza had also acknowledged that even in India, Kashmir has faced media restrictions at times. We cannot criticize Pakistan while ignoring our own shortcomings. Let's demand press freedom for ALL regions, not selectively. 🤔
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