Facing abductions, censorship and financial ruin, journalists in Pakistan may be under unprecedented pressure from authorities ahead of nationwide polls, sparking allegations the military is overseeing a “silent coup”. Media houses describe a sustained campaign by the security establishment ahead of the July 25 election to curb their coverage. Those who refuse to toe the line are increasingly targeted while their employers face financial blowback, sparking widespread self-censorship. “We have never witnessed such censorship,” said Afzal Butt, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

Pakistan has long been dangerous for journalists and activists, but the uptick in pressure is seen as brazen and extraordinary. Its largest broadcaster, Geo TV, was partially forced off air for weeks this year until it reportedly cut a deal with the military to adjust coverage; its oldest newspaper, Dawn, complains its sellers are being “threatened by state institutions” after an interview with ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in May, where he suggested Pakistani militants were behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Foreign envoys have also privately aired concerns, fearing for stability as polls approach. “There is clearly a concerted effort to muzzle the media here,” a diplomatic source said. AFP

Courtesy: Mirror: 30062018