The leaked audio clip of the PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz must act as a catalyst towards forming media policies that are free from any influence. In the clip, Maryam can be heard directing someone to stop advertisements to certain TV channels. Surprisingly, the PML-N leader confirmed the authenticity of the audio during a presser held on Wednesday and said that it was from the time when she was heading the party’s media cell.
The confession, nonetheless, gave the ruling party a chance to hit back at the PML-N for political point-scoring. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry termed the incident “an immoral and illegal act”, implying that the PML-N used public money during its tenure to influence the media. An inquiry committee has been formed to probe the matter and report on any irregularities found in the allotment of advertisements issued to media organisations during the PML-N government’s last tenure. We commend this decision and condemn the use of advertisement to influence editorial policies. But the setting up of a committee by the very government that tried to pass draconian laws to muzzle the media is rather ironic.
It must be noted that the incumbent government has also been accused of dolling out billion of rupees “from the national kitty to reward blue-eyed journalists and media channels”. In its statement published to condemn the audio clip, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) noted that the ruling party has ‘centralised’ advertising decisions to exercise control on media. These are no small accusations and the government must be answerable. It must remember that freedom of media is enshrined in our constitution and is crucial for any democracy to survive.
A thorough investigation must be held into this matter, while the incumbent government should also make public the records of its spending on advertisements to media organisations. No government should be allowed to financially exploit journalists and stifle the media. The ruling party in its manifesto had assured freedom of press and it must stand by this promise. Pakistan already ranks 145 out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. As the PBA stated, “When governments try to control freedom of expression, democracy and the people of Pakistan suffer the most.”
