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Press Freedom in Benazir Bhutto Era 1988-1991
Press Freedom in Benazir Bhutto Era 1988-1991
Press Freedom in Benazir Bhutto Era 1988-1991
era 1988-1991
Introduction
• Benazir Bhutto became 11th prime minister of
Pakistan on December 2, 1998.
• In her first speech, she promised that
all the press laws curtailing press freedom
would be abolished.
Freedom of press and protection of basic
human rights would be the priority of the
government
Job security of working journalists would be
ensured.
• Benazir Bhutto said
“we cannot establish the free society if
the people were afraid to speak truth,
therefore we welcome dissent”.
Violation of government
• Government ignored the promise related
to freedom of press and thoughts
• For Instance
Incident on eve of international day of
volunteers, Professor Rasheed ch was
subjected to violence.
Photographer and APP correspondent
ware threatened.
• Punjab government of Nawaz Sharif
curtailed 50% quota of official
advertisements of the Pakistan times and
daily Mashriq.
• Benazir Bhutto centre and Nawaz Sharif
in Punjab their rules of 1988 took every
strict measure for controlling the press.
Violation of Political parties
• Mutahida Quami movement criticized the
policy of Jang and Dawn related to the
coverage of party.
• Altaf Hussain appealed muhajir
community not to purchase Jang
newspaper.
• Owner of jang had to change their policy
toward MQM
• The workers of IJI, on the eve of by
election in jahanian city looted and
physically tortured four photographers
and two reporters.
Attack on Newspaper offices
and journalists
• Offices of daily Jang Lahore Quetta were
attacked by workers of
MSF, BSF, PSF, APMSO.
• Workers of PMLN warned daily Jang
news Rawalpindi to change policy against
their chief minster of Punjab.
• Three journalists were killed in khair pur
and Larkana.
• On May 31,1990 Rahat Kazi the
correspondent
• On June 2, 1990 Ahmed khan of PPI and
Mutahir Naqvi of Nawa-e-waqt were
assassinated in Larkana.
• On July 3, 1990 Mansoor Khan was died
due to acid attack
Registration of printing press
and publication
• RPPO was introduced by the interim
government, but not put forward for
formal legislation in NA .
• Government had no interest in the affairs
related to legal obligations about Press
laws.
• RPPO was reintroduced in Jan 1989 then
again n 1990.
• This reintroduction , in the light of verdict
of supreme court was illegal and
unconstitutional.
Press freedom in Benazir Bhutto
era in 1993-1996
Introduction
• Benazir Bhutto took oath of prime minister
on October 19, 1993
• Perception of Benazir Bhutto
• Several murders attempt who took bold
step to unveil the wrong doings of
government officials.
• During her government violence against
press increased manifold.
Violation
• 1993-96 most deadly years for
journalists
• Attacked on the offices of
newspaper and press clubs
• Ban on official advertisements
• Case of libel against journalists
• Ban on newspaper, cancelation
the declaration of newspaper
• Corrupting the press journalists
Press council in 1995
RPPO in 1995
• A proposal was presented jointly by
the journalists‟ organization and
government to establish a press
council.
• The matters of establishment of press
council were neither pursued by
journalists nor by government.
• Government introduced RPPO
, ignored democratic means of
legislation.
• Due to the punitive
measures, effecting the functional
freedom of press, newspapers didn‟t
express their point of view related to
RPPO.
Method of official
advertisements
• govt adopted numerous measures of advertisements
control „as a tool to control the economy of press‟.
• For instance
5% sales tax was imposed on the newspapers.
Custom duty on news print was raised by 91%
Relaxation on import duty on printing machinery was
also taken back.
• All autonomous, semi autonomous and government to
get permission from press information
department(PID), before giving advertisement to any
newspaper.
• Only pro government newspapers were rewarded in
shape of official advertisements
Visible and loud protest of
press
• Violence against the journalists increased
manifold and brutalities plus atrocities of
the government were at its peak
• The press took several methods in regard
to register its protest
Black day was observed on Sep 16, 1995
Walks, protests march and procession
were initiated against government
The journalists boycotted on several
occasion the proceeding of provincial and
national assemblies
The journalists walkout from the official
meeting on umpteen times
On Sep 21, 1995 four journalists went to
hunger style till death in punnu Aaqil
Conclusion
• A series of acts of violence, killings
of journalists, threatening
telephone to journalists and
misuse of powers plus brutalities
of police against press
• Hooliganism of pressure
group, during the rule of Benazir
Bhutto proved that, this era was
worst for press than militarism.
Government of Nawaz Sharif
(1990-93)
• In general election of 1990,IJI won the majority seats
in national assembly.
• Nawaz Sharif became prime minister on November
1990.
• In his first speech as a prime minister he had not
mentioned anything relating to the press, freedom of
press and journalist.
• The journalist and the press had to pay and suffered at
the hands of ethnic groups during the first term of
Nawaz Sharif.
Attacks Of MQM
Punjab 18
Sindh 57
Baluchistan 3
NWFP 1
TOTAL 79
Methods of corrupting journalist