Freedom vs. Responsibility: Media Ethics Crisis in Pakistan

Abstract

The imposition of emergency in Pakistan on 3 November 2007 followed by a ban on media resulted in putting most of the private TV news channels off the air. Prior to that necessary amendment were made in the laws governing both print and electronic media in the country. Some of the new clauses added to section 20 of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002, are as follows:
(j) ‘ not to broadcast video footage of suicide bombers, terrorists, bodies of victim of terrorism, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and such other acts which may, in any way, promote, aid or abet terrorist activities or terrorism;
(k) ensure that no anchorperson, moderator or host propagates any opinion or acts in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan;
(l) not [to] broadcast any programme inciting violence or hatred or any action prejudicial to maintenance of law and order;
(m) not broadcast any programme which defames or brings into ridicule the head of the state or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state;
(n) not broadcast any programme on a matter which is sub-judice, and
(o) not broadcast anything which is known to be false or baseless or is malafide or for which there exist sufficient reasons to believe that the same may be false, baseless or malafide.’1