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As the media crisis in Pakistan intensified inNovember 2007, the International Federationof Journalists (IFJ) sent an emergency missionto the country to support its affiliate, thePakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ),and local media community in their defence of

a free media and free expression.

The crisis was building throughout the year, butthe imposition of emergency rule and relatedamendments to two important laws governingthe media raised the stakes by seeking to silencejournalists and media institutions.

The PEMRA Problem

One of the main concerns during the IFJmission was the increasing and arbitrary powerof the Pakistan Electronic Media RegulatoryAuthority (PEMRA) to restrict freedom ofexpression and inhibit a culture of journalistic

inquiry in Pakistan.

The mission delegates underlined theirconcerns about PEMRA and its code ofconduct for journalists in meetings withrepresentatives of the caretaker government.The delegates sent a clear message that therewas worldwide concern about government-backed authorities threatening penalties ifmedia institutions do not sign the code ofconduct a code that has received no inputfrom journalists and which in fact imposescensorship. Despite claims by officials that thePEMRA clampdown would be temporary,PEMRA has since tightened controls bybanning live coverage of events related to thenational elections on January 8.

Fundamental to any code of ethics and conductfor journalists is that journalists draw up thecode themselves and that media is independentand dedicated to freedom of expression. Themission inquiries found that pressure on mediainstitutions to sign the PEMRA code indicate amisunderstanding of the principles of ethicaland responsible journalism. Under such a code,journalists cannot fulfill their duty to informcitizens by reporting frankly on theadministration that governs them.

Genuine Code for Journalists

At its World Congress in 1954, the IFJ adopteda Declaration of Principles on the Conduct ofJournalists. These principles include:

NRespect for truth and for the right of the public totruth is the first duty of the journalist.

N The journalist shall at all times defend theprinciples of freedom in the honest collection andpublication of news, and of the right to fair

comment and criticism.N Within the general law of each country the

journalist shall recognise in matters ofprofessional matters the jurisdiction of colleaguesonly, to the exclusion of any kind of interferenceby governments or others.

Islamabad Declaration

These principles were endorsed during the IFJmission when journalists and a wide range ofrepresentatives of civil society issued adeclaration on 20 November. The IslamabadDeclaration demanded Pakistans anti-media

laws be revoked. It added:The right to know should not be taken away fromthe people of Pakistan. The liberty and safety ofjournalists and editorial independence are principlesof press freedom that we hold as sacrosanct andnon-negotiable . . .

Universal Declarationof Human Rights

The Islamabad Declaration is in keeping withthe Universal Declaration of Human Rights,which Pakistan has signed and which says inArticle 19:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion andexpression; this right includes freedom to holdopinions without interference and to seek, receiveand impart information and ideas through anymedia, and regardless of frontiers.

The IFJ, with journalists in Pakistan and acrossthe world, calls on all leaders and authorities inPakistan to abide by their obligations under theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights and takeall necessary measures to restore free expression.

More Information

The report of the IFJ missions investigations

will be available in January 2008.

For more information about press freedom,ethical journalism and the IFJ Declaration ofPrinciples on the Conduct of Journalists,go to: www.ifj.org

Principles of

Journalistic

Ethics

Freedom

Truth

Independence

Accountability

Fair debate

Minimise harm

No incitementto hatred

PAKISTAN

Media inChains

The International

Federation of Journalistsis the world's largest

organisation of journalists

and represents 600,000

journalists in 120 countries.

www.ifj.org