DAWN Editorials - 23th february2025

[faheemustad]

Defending freedom

THERE was no other choice. Despite assurances of consultations with key stakeholders, the government passed the Peca amendment law and has forced journalist bodies, the legal fraternity, and human rights groups to launch a united front against this draconian law, culminating in a convention at the Karachi Press Club on March 1. Journalists have been at the forefront, organising protests, filing legal challenges, and raising awareness. Their efforts have borne fruit, with various civil society groups joining their cause. With the convention, this movement is gaining critical mass. The decision to band together can be a powerful statement against a repressive legal framework. The concerns are well-founded. Peca expands the state’s powers to target individuals for expressing opinions online. It grants authorities sweeping control over digital content, putting all citizens at risk of censorship and persecution. Even before this law was passed, journalists, academics, doctors, students, and activists had been subjected to intimidation. The new amendments formalise these excesses, shielding state actors from accountability while stifling legitimate discourse.

The March 1 convention must serve as a platform for wider mobilisation. While journalists have taken the lead, other societal groups should also step forward. Suppression of speech is not an issue confined to the media — it is a direct attack on the rights of every citizen. Teachers, students, labour organisations, and civil society must recognise that this law threatens their freedoms. Unchallenged, its reach will extend beyond journalists to anyone questioning authority. The government must acknowledge that steamrolling critical voices is neither sustainable nor democratic. It should immediately repeal the latest amendments to Peca and engage in genuine dialogue with relevant stakeholders to draft a more balanced law. Policy recommendations should include independent oversight of content regulation, clear safeguards against abuse, and a commitment to upholding freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution. The unity displayed by stakeholders against Peca shows that citizens will not quietly accept the erosion of their fundamental rights. The government must heed these voices before the consequences of this legislation feed into a wider societal discontent. A free press is not an adversary; it is an essential pillar of democracy.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2025


Anti-Muslim crimes

THE surge in Islamophobic assaults in the UK, as reported by the anti-hate crime charity Tell MAMA, is a stark reminder of the deepening crisis of intolerance and hate. With a staggering 73pc rise and a record-breaking 6,313 reports of anti-Muslim incidents in 2024, the situation is deeply disturbing. Not only do these figures reflect the increasing danger posed by right-wing extremism, they also underscore the failure of mainstream discourse to challenge and reject Islamophobic narratives. Tell MAMA’s director Iman Atta has rightly pointed out that the normalisation of Islamophobia in political rhetoric and the spread of far-right conspiracy theories have created an unprecedented threat for Britain’s Muslims. The ‘great replacement’ theory, which claims that Muslims and other minorities are ‘replacing’ native populations, has fuelled violence online and offline. There is evidence that extremists share tactics to evade law enforcement, target mosques, and even incentivise attacks. This organised hate has made everyday life perilous for visibly Muslim individuals, particularly women, who now fear stepping outside with their children. This atmosphere is not building in isolation. The rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes coincides with a broader increase in societal tensions, as seen in antisemitic incidents, which remain at their second highest recorded level. The Gaza conflict, the riots following last year’s Southport attack, and the political weaponisation of issues such as grooming gangs have all contributed to an environment where disinformation thrives, further radicalising individuals.

All is not dark though. Ms Atta notes that Muslim communities remain resilient, with many openly expressing pride in their identity despite the risks. Moreover, the response of the British criminal justice system to violence has been commendable. Still, these efforts are insufficient. The government and civil society must take stronger action against hate speech, regulate social media platforms that enable extremism, and foster unity among all communities.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2025


The long wait

THE political process appears to be going nowhere. The PTI seems to have run out of ideas and the rest of the opposition has been floating about in a rudderless manner. The ruling parties seem to have little to offer, having compromised their principles in the pursuit of power.

Meanwhile, the steady dismantling of the state apparatus continues apace. National institutions are being systematically weakened; soon, they may no longer be in any position to enforce the social contract between the people and the state. Repeated interference in matters of governance and policy is not only setting the country back politically but also dampening its economic prospects.


It has been difficult to rationalise why all of this is happening, given that there seems to be some acknowledgement, even among those holding the reins, that the current trajectory cannot be sustained. Rarely has a nation seemed so helpless against its worst impulses.

The opposition has announced a two-day conference in Islamabad in the coming week to discuss politics and other national issues. No ruling party has been invited, even though the rationale given for hosting the conference is that “problems are only solved when they are discussed”.

Representatives of the media and lawyers’ and workers’ unions have been invited, but one may assume that only the like-minded among them will attend. The divisions that exist in politics have spread to every other domain. The conference is unlikely to yield much beyond soundbites and a few headlines in the papers.

It cannot solve Pakistan’s fundamental problem, which is that two of its most important leaders still cannot get over themselves. One considers himself a great politician but refuses to do politics, while the other once called himself the biggest champion of civilian supremacy yet now refuses to stand up for it.


For those watching Pakistani politics from an intellectual perspective, both men have been a disappointment lately. Their stubborn refusal to find common ground has hardened into a personal enmity that has no place in a democratic society.

What has made the fight all the more exasperating is that both leaders appear to have the same vision for Pakistan as a country where the public controls its destiny. Though no one expects them to set aside their personal principles or compromise on political positions, it is not irrational to expect them to give the possible political solutions before them some thought.

Obstinacy has gotten the country nowhere in the last three-odd years. The cycle of violence and retribution will need to stop so that things can improve. Until it does, there can be little hope for sociopolitical and economic stability in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2025