January 20, 2017

Pakistan: Defining moment for freedom of speech in digital age

located:	Pakistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

Civil society activists in Pakistan are pretty much convinced the government forces are behind the suspicious disappearance of five prominent bloggers. This is seen as a defining moment for the country’s freedom of speech in the digital age.

These online activists namely Salman Haider, Ahmed Waqas Goraya, Asim Saeed, Ahmed Raza Naseer and Samar Abbas went missing on different dates earlier this month. Days after their disappearance, Pakistani living in the country and other different parts of the world who sensed a clear danger, raised loud calls for the safe and swift release of the bloggers.

The situation is pretty much alike that in Bangladesh where scores of online bloggers have been killed by extremists for their liberal views. The same seems to be happening in Pakistan where some forces from the far-right have already labelled the missing bloggers as ‘blasphemous’ which literally means ‘deserving death sentence’.

The freedom of speech and free press are hard-earned values in Pakistan, but are under constant threats. The country’s history in this regard is littered with blood, persecutions and curbs. Some civil society groups like the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) labour and journalists’ unions have been at the forefronts against these threats.

Many, however, are silence and not bothered by this because they believe it is ‘others’ issue. Such individuals and groups need to realize it is not the matter of some individuals with certain beliefs and ideas, but a question of basic human rights and freedoms.

Journalists in Pakistan have fought heard to win the limited freedom they have, and they need to make sure no one, including the government, snatch this liberty by force in the digital age.