Pakistan: CFWIJ condemns the troll campaign against journalist Benazir Shah

September 14, 2021, Islamabad - Journalist Benazir Shah was targeted by an organized troll campaign instigated by Focal Person (Digital Media) to CM Punjab, Azhar Mashwani, after she reported on the Single National Curriculum introduced by the current government. The curriculum has been met with much criticism for, what many perceive as, religious orthodoxy and patriarchy embedded in its content. This is not the first time state officials have targeted journalists on social media, and the lack of accountability from the government regarding these bullying tactics make them complicit in the ongoing intimidation of media in the country.

In an article published on BBC Urdu, Benazir Shah and Natasha Mohammad Zai, highlighted the patriarchal structures the Single National Curriculum (SNC) is upholding through the messaging in its contents. A comprehensive study of the books designed for elementary school students in the country relegate women to care-taking positions, reinforcing regressive gender roles. 

“In fact in all the books examined by BBC Urdu, women are predominately shown as homemakers or teachers and young girls are illustrated playing with flowers, dresses and cats. Whereas boys play outdoor sports and men pursue a diverse range of professions,” states the article criticizing the gender representation in these books and the subsequent impact it can have on young minds. The curriculum is also being criticized for being inconsiderate of the sentiments of religious minorities in the country, with content for the Urdu language as well as Social Studies incorporating content related to Islamic history and traditions. 

The article was a reported piece, carrying the opinions of those working in the field of education as well as representatives of religious minorities in the country, and was not an opinion piece. Despite this, Focal Person (Digital Media) to CM Punjab, Azhar Mashwani, ridiculed this effort to engage with government policies affecting citizens at large. In an attempt to belittle genuine grievances by vulnerable groups in the country, Mashwani initiated a #TweetLikeBenazir trend on twitter, exaggerating the gender bias that Shah’s article highlighted. Soon, Shah was inundated with tweets that ranged from ridiculing her to actively threatening her. This is unsurprising. Many see Mashwani as a government representative, and he boasts a twitter following of over one hundred thousand, many of whom are supporters of the current government.

The following tweets have since been deleted:

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned at this culture of bullying that has caught steam in the country. Journalists, especially women journalists in Pakistan, are routinely targeted by state representatives who instigate their followers to then attack them on social media. The Pakistani digital space has become extremely hostile for critics of the state, reflecting on the intolerant attitude that the current government has towards dissent and disagreement. There is no accountability for state officials regularly organizing supporters to silence critics which indicates that the government encourages this undemocratic action of silencing the press. This systematic intimidation of journalists is not only reprehensible but detrimental to the country’s political culture.