October 20, 2021- Prominent broadcast journalist and Coalition For Women In Journalism member Asma Shirazi has been hit with yet another government-backed organized troll campaign. Reacting to a column penned by Asma in BBC Urdu, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s official Twitter account posted a video purportedly of a mobile phone conversation between Asma and thrice ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The ruling party’s Twitter handle attempted to discredit and align Asma and accused her of “obedience” to a “certified chor [thief] and absconder”. The CFWIJ condemns the use of such rhetoric by the party, which leads Pakistan’s federal government. Such acts by a government already under criticism for encroaching on the freedom of the press, in a country known for its frequent violations against journalists, place a target on journalists’ backs.

Shortly after PTI’s tweet, a barrage of online hate was unleashed on Asma by government-backed trolls and supporters of the ruling party. The troll accounts, followed by PTI cadres, accused Asma of implying insulting propositions regarding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi in the BBC Urdu article.

In its tweet, PTI implied that Asma - an accomplished and credible journalist - is somehow partial towards Nawaz Sharif, who leads the country’s largest opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and hence critical of the incumbent government. 

As the hate piled on, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill went as far as to hold a press conference attacking the senior journalist for critiquing the government’s economic policies.To deflect questions on the rising inflation in the country, Dr Gill attempted to discredit her work by painting her as biased towards the opposition.  

Asma’s experience extends beyond the ruling party’s tenure in government and she has frequently been targeted for her principled and vocal stances. In the past three years, however, we have observed that intimidation campaigns against critical journalists have intensified under the current government.

The prime minister’s special assistant was not the only one. Other federal ministers, including Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari, Ports and Shipping Minister Ali Haider Zaidi and Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, also publicly lashed out at the journalist for daring to question the PTI government’s flailing economic policies. The human rights minister extended the slander campaign to BBC Urdu as well, for publishing Asma’s piece. “Actually I have maintained for a long time that BBC is a closet Bharat Broadcasting Corporation,” she tweeted.

The ministers refused to budge from their onslaught on Asma despite facing criticism from both local and international journalist organizations. 

In a bid to counter the PTI’s vicious and misrepresented videos, Asma’s journalist friends and colleagues posted complete clips of the same telephonic discussion and extended support to the senior journalist. The former prime minister had reportedly had similar discussions with other journalists as well and nothing to cast doubt on Asma’s credibility could be gauged from the videos. The ruling party’s malicious tweet was simply in efforts to malign Asma and stir up a controversy around her. 

Such targeted attacks on a journalist questioning the government’s policies - as is her job - by public office bearers are appalling and extremely concerning. The malicious campaign against Asma is yet another example of the ruling party’s inability to tolerate any form of criticism or dissent.  

Asma has endured such toxic attacks time and again in Pakistan's digital space. Asma did not explicitly name anyone in her column for BBC Urdu but the piece has invited hate by the ruling party and its supporters. Online hate campaigns in Pakistan, especially by government-backed trolls have increased significantly and the CFWIJ has been vigilantly documenting these violations. As a loud and critical voice in Pakistan’s media landscape, Asma has also faced physical threats in the past. There was a break-in attempted at her residence in Islamabad. In June 2021, there was a treason case registered against her reportedly by supporters of the ruling party. To her credit, Asma has remained undeterred by such lowly tactics and has continued her fierce reportage.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends solidarity to Asma. We condemn the actions of the ruling party and urge the government to restrain itself from targeting critical voices. Its efforts to curtail the freedom of the press and silence dissenting voices, particularly in the journalism industry, have not escaped our notice. We condemn the use of such rhetoric against journalists. Ranking 145th out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index 2021, Pakistan should take meaningful steps to ensure the safety of its journalists and create a more conducive environment for independent journalism. Instead, the ruling party frequently resorts to lowly tactics to intimidate and threaten journalists infringing on the democratic rights of the press and the citizens’ right to information. We urge the PTI to render an apology to Asma and refrain from employing such dangerous tactics against journalists, especially women journalists.