"All channels have got PTV virus:" Journalists slam media censorship of PTI protest

Several journalists slammed the government over censorship of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) protest on electronic media, prompting people to rely on online sources more than TV news channels.

Senior journalist Absa Komal underscored the consequences of silencing electronic media as she argued that “when mainstream media loses credibility for not reporting on ongoing events, people look towards political parties' official pages...” 

Marina Baabar praised PTI's official page for timely updates, which the media and news channels are unable to provide. 

Ameer Abbas claimed that TV channels were doing state-infleunced narrative. “The media cannot air PTI's account on any accident or incident.

Nevertheless, censorship of digital media has, to some extent, hindered journalists from fulfilling their duties. Digital media has been malfunctioning nationwide since the protests began.

A senior journalist, Mehreen Zahra Malik, shared her difficulties with X handle, highlighting “an intense digital crackdown in Pakistan”. 

Although the local media did not give the coverage to the march, nevertheless, Imran Khan’s final call to protest attracted all international news platforms.

Kamran Khan stated: “From CNN to New York Times, and from FT to BBC, PTI protest is part of headlines at each protest.” 

The internet slowdown in Pakistan severely affected social media. Users feel helpless to send their messages to others while X was being operated with the help of virtual private networks (VPNs) for months, and now the government has begun a crackdown against it. 

Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir lashed out at the media organisations for failing to report crucial incidents, including the death of Rangers personnel, impartially. He stated that the conventional media "compromised its own integrity."