Pakistan Imposes Strict Restrictions on International Media

Islamabad: Pakistan has imposed sweeping restrictions on international media organisations, barring them from reporting from most parts of the country without special permission.

Under the new regulations, journalists, including Pakistani citizens working for international media outlets, must obtain prior approval to report from any location outside the three cities of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

Pakistan is currently ranked 153rd out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. Successive governments in the country have previously imposed restrictions and censorship on local media. However, this is reportedly the first time such extensive restrictions have been placed on international media organisations and Pakistani journalists working for them.

The new restrictions were announced shortly after international media outlets reported on the killing of protesters near the border. Pakistan also blocked access to the Al Jazeera website after it published reports on protests in Muzaffarabad and the public boycott of local elections.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information reportedly described Al Jazeera’s coverage as “yellow journalism.”

The new regulations also state that journalists may lose their accreditation if they engage in activities considered to be against Pakistan’s ideology, sovereignty, security or public order.

However, concerns have been raised that these broadly worded provisions could be misused to suppress critical reporting and restrict freedom of expression.

Media organisations have strongly protested against what they describe as an infringement on press freedom and freedom of expression.