Development of Media Policies and Reforms in Pakistan with reference to the Democratic and Dictatorship Regime

Abstract

This article studies the comparison between democratic and dictatorship regime in Pakistan, primarily focusing on creation of media policies and laws. It is said that development of any society is dependent on number of factors and progressive areas in which media definitely has a vital role. The progressive role of mass media in any society doesn’t only educate and inform the general public but also helps in the formulation of national identity.

For the developing countries like Pakistan the role of media especially becomes crucial when it has to fulfil the requirements of watchdog and simultaneously promotes the national interest and builds positive image of society all around the world. This responsibility of media becomes further difficult when the society of like Pakistan, has different, several powerful and influential people that can distort, manipulate and biased the opinions of mass media to favor their own good.The article also studies about the opportunities that were present for the media industry and how the new laws and regulations have welcomed the investments with arms wide open.

This article, in detail, studies the role of mass media and its growth in democratic and dictatorship regime. Although the general public opinion of the state is always in the favor of the democracy, yet it is quite astonished to know that media’s success was noticeably documented rather in military eras and to be more specific in General Pervez Musharraf’s era. This advancement of mass media result in freedom of speech which lately became a trouble for Retired General himself.

Political pressure on media is an unavoidable factor in Pakistan that is mostly done indirectly. One handy tactic frequently used by the government is to cut off ‘unfriendly’ media from governmental advertising. Also with the use of strict laws the government has also directly banned or officially silenced popular television channels. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) that has been initially created for the support and flourishing of the mass media industry, has also been used by the influential and dominating players,a number of times to quiet the broadcast media by either suspending licenses or by simply threatening to do so. In addition to this, media has also been exposed to propaganda from state agencies, pressured by powerful political elements and even non-state actors that are either effected or involved in the conflicts. However, keeping in mind these number of distortions, it is also being said that in spite of political pressure and direct bans, to a larger extent, the media still enjoys freedom of expression and freedom of speechand plays a phenomenal role that was the need of the hour in certain circumstances.