2019 a year of curbs and chokehold on media: HRCP

ISLAMABAD—The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday in its annual report, expressed grave concern over the crisis in Pakistani media, terming 2019 ‘chokehold’ on press freedom.

The Commission’s Secretary-General Harris Khalique observed that “last year will be remembered for curbs and chokehold on media.”

HRCP said numerous journalists reported that it had become even more difficult to criticize state policy.

Former HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yusuf said that curbs to speak against state policy, coupled with the erosion of social media spaces and the deliberate financial squeeze on news organizations, had crippled the press.

Restrictions on the media had led to Pakistan’s position slipping on the World Press Freedom Index, she said.

Media watchdogs continue to express concern over the decline of press freedom in Pakistan.

Source: Reports