[APCPress] Opinion: "Freedom of expression" like never before in Pakistan

[Karen Higgs]

Members of the press

APC has received this statement from Shahzad Ahmad of the Bytes For All 
network which is a member of APC. We feel you will be interested. To 
contact Shahzad Ahmad write to <shahzad at bytesforall.net>.

Very best wishes
Karen Higgs
APC communications manager

In Pakistan, its "freedom of expression like never before". This is the 
lead line of advertisements by the state owned media.

Yes, it is freedom as never before, essentially, freedom to kill 
journalists, freedom to kidnap journalists, freedom to pick their family 
members and keep them in detention, freedom to baton charge and tear gas 
shelling on public meetings, freedom to curb the voice of general public 
using police and army.

Pakistan is only the second state in the world after Burma, which is 
governed by a hegemonic military regime. State oppression is at its 
worst. With zero tolerance for any public voice against the state 
oppression, worst hit are journalist community. State is using every 
possible avenue to curb hard earned freedom of press in Pakistan. 
Whenever, there is any public demonstration, government enjoys the 
freedom to block TV channels, close down cable TV networks, black out 
Internet bandwidth and websites at their will, and issue press advice to 
print media pressurizing the owners of media outfits, stopping them to 
present truth.

The tone and sound of the government is getting threatening every day. 
On 29th September only, around 27 journalists were beaten by state 
machinery so severely that at least 2 of them are still in coma, many 
with broken limbs and the loss of expensive video/audio equipment is yet 
unaccounted. When one sees the footage of various independent TV 
channels, one thing is extremely alarming that the bashing kept no 
discrimination among male and female journalists. So gender balance was 
successfully observed!

Point to be noted is that in the current times, this kind of worst state 
oppression and atrocities against general public and civil liberties 
only happen in Pakistan and Burma.

Unfortunate scenario however is that while West is really keen on civil 
liberties all over the world with particular current focus on Burma but 
hardly pays any attention to state terrorism and government atrocities 
in Pakistan. Vested interests, war on terror, enlightened moderation but 
at what cost? At the cost of 160 million people, their rights and a 
volatile region, putting lives of many more at the risk of state terror? 
Essentially, Pakistan portrays the picture of a worst kind of police state!

Pakistan enjoys freedom of expression like never before. Yes, freedom to 
kill, freedom to kidnap, freedom to curb public voices.

God help us! -- Shahzad Ahmad

END
*
VIDEO LINKS*

*BLOODIEST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN PAKISTAN'S HISTORY*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SweEonSpxyo&NR=1 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SweEonSpxyo&NR=1>

*Aitazaz Ahsan attacked by police by stones and then baton charged. 
(Aitazaz is the leader of bar council opposing Musharraf)*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBsyidC-nZQ&NR=1 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBsyidC-nZQ&NR=1>

*State Terrorism Against Journalists in Pakistan*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLISopu-InU&NR=1 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLISopu-InU&NR=1>

*NEWS
*

*Battle on Constitution Avenue: Scores of lawyers, journalists injured*

http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/30/top2.htm

*A reign of terror in Islamabad*

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print3.asp?id=10383

*Dozens injured in clashes outside ECP*

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg1_3 
<http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C30%5Cstory_30-9-2007_pg1_3>

*TV channels ‘blocked’*

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\30\story_30-9-2007_pg1_6 
<http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C30%5Cstory_30-9-2007_pg1_6>

*A Reign of Terror in Islamabad*

http://www.groundreport.com/article.php?articleID=2835939

*Independent TV channels in Pakistan taken off air*

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=b9d568fa-0fc3-4b2b-8769-58132087e9f1&MatchID1=4577&TeamID1=7&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1148&PrimaryID=4577&Headline=Independent+TV+channels+in+Pak+taken+off+air 
<http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=b9d568fa-0fc3-4b2b-8769-58132087e9f1&MatchID1=4577&TeamID1=7&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1148&PrimaryID=4577&Headline=Independent+TV+channels+in+Pak+taken+off+air>

*Police clash with lawyers in Islamabad*

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=b420fa65-f10a-491d-bd12-038baffce60a&MatchID1=4577&TeamID1=7&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1148&PrimaryID=4577&Headline=Police+clash+with+lawyers%2c+activists+in+Islamabad 
<http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=b420fa65-f10a-491d-bd12-038baffce60a&MatchID1=4577&TeamID1=7&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1148&PrimaryID=4577&Headline=Police+clash+with+lawyers%2c+activists+in+Islamabad>

*About Shahzad Ahmad*

Shahzad works in the area of development communications and knowledge 
management, mainly for civil society organisations in Pakistan. As a 
Bytes For All volunteer and on behalf of the Association for Progressive 
Communications, he has been managing Pakistan ICT policy monitor 
network. The objectives of the network are to advocate for 
people-friendly people-centred ICT policies in the country. A member of 
National IT Think Tank, also he also serves as World Summit Award 
National e-Content Expert for Pakistan. Widely traveled, Shahzad has 
contributed to various publications.