Web Desk(National Times)- The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have expressed concerns regarding media freedom after the government mandated foreign media personnel to seek permission for travelling to any city outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for news coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe requirement that journalists obtain state approval to report from large parts of the country sends a chilling message: that critical reporting is unwelcome,\u201d HRCP noted in a statement on Wednesday about the \u2018Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expressing its deep concern, the commission said the rules would \u201cinvariably institutionalise bureaucratic control over news gathering and risk deterring independent reporting on matters of public interest\u201d rather than facilitate journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is the latest in a growing pattern of restrictions on media freedom in Pakistan. From arbitrary curbs on reporting and increasing censorship to legal and administrative barriers, the space for independent journalism has continued to shrink,\u201d the rights body highlighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It urged the government to withdraw the \u201crestrictive measures and uphold its constitutional and international obligation to protect freedom of expression\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, PFUJ \u201cstrongly condemned\u201d the new rules and termed them as restrictions on press freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement issued on Thursday, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari said the guidelines amount to \u201cattacking the freedom of expression and putting curbs on press freedom\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe government has not only banned foreign journalists from visiting most of the areas of Pakistan except major cities, but they have also restricted the movement of Pakistani media persons working with international media outlets. They are not allowed to visit these areas on their own either,\u201d it pointed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow can foreign correspondents and their Pakistani colleagues perform their professional duties after this notification?\u201d the PFUJ leaders asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They further asserted that the move would \u201conly bring disrepute to Pakistan and damage its image\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PFUJ statement noted, \u201cPakistan is already ranked very low among the countries that have the worst record in press freedom. And the action of the government would add to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It demanded that the government immediately \u201clift this ban\u201d if it believed in democracy and press freedom, arguing that such a move would also impact the employment of Pakistanis working with international media outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNaturally, if Pakistani journalists working with global media outlets are unable to visit different areas, it means they would not be able to perform their professional responsibilities. Consequently, they would lose their jobs,\u201d it contended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PFUJ leaders were quoted as saying that such actions \u201care taken in banana republics, not in countries that claim to follow democratic principles\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf the demands of PFUJ are not accepted, we would be left with no option but to resort to protest and demonstrations,\u201d it warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the new guidelines, all foreign media personnel will now need a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the information ministry to travel to any city except Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to produce \u201cnews content, story, video, film, documentary or social media content\u201d for official use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, under the new rules, all entities operating in Pakistan to facilitate foreign media \u201cin any capacity\u201d are also required to register with the ministry\u2019s External Publicity (EP) Wing, as are non-journalists living in Pakistan who render services to foreign media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guidelines also specify that individuals\u2019 press registration can be suspended or withdrawn for \u201cacts against ideology, sovereignty, security or public order of Pakistan\u201d, and if the EP Wing \u201cdeems appropriate at any stage\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Web Desk(National Times)- The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have expressed concerns regarding media freedom after the government mandated foreign media personnel to seek permission for travelling to any city outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for news coverage. \u201cThe requirement that journalists obtain state approval to report from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":130794,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n