Pakistan: Groundbreaking Verdict for Asma Shirazi Upholds Media Accountability in Pakistan
Ruling sets powerful precedent against disinformation, marks a significant step forward in the fight for media accountability and the protection of women journalists in Pakistan
Location: Pakistan, Islamabad
Date: December 8, 2023
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom lauds the recent verdict the Islamabad High Court issued in favor of Asma Shirazi, a veteran Pakistani journalist. The case — fought by an all-women legal team comprised of Nighat Dad, Irum Shuja, Aqsa Javed, and Shafia Imran Lati — against the state-owned media watchdog’s complaint body is a significant milestone in holding disinformation actors to account, particularly those targeting women journalists, and marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s legal landscape. The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the precedent set, allowing journalists to raise their voices against entities and individuals resorting to malign their credibility and work, as well as placing their lives and careers in danger due to incessant harassment, online and in person.
“Our lives have been put in danger due to disinformation owing to the kind of cult following they have,” Asma Shirazi tells CFWIJ about the misinformation campaign by ARY News targeting the journalist. Two years later, in a landmark victory, Shirazi won a court case against the channel and Pakistan’s electronic media watchdog, Pakistan's Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
“This is a huge lesson that when you handover your newsroom to those perpetuating propaganda and agenda setting and those disloyal to journalism but rather loyal to other pressure groups and parties, then agendas like this work,” she says about her case.
In October 2021, Shirazi was targeted by an organized troll campaign by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), an opposition party previously in power. PTI posted a video reacting to a column Shirazi penned for BBC Urdu. PTI’s official Twitter handle tried to portray Shirazi as a “slave” to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Subsequently, trolls targeted Shirazi with a barrage of abuse, threats, accusations by government-backed trolls, and culminating in a fabricated news story by ARY News that implicated her in a controversy involving former premier Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi. Despite Shirazi's non-involvement, the story led to her character assassination, both online and on-air.
“It was a totally baseless, fabricated, and a completely false story,” Shirazi tells CFWIJ. “I went through pain and an examination questioning my credibility. I felt, why was this happening to me? Then I realized it was because I was a woman,” she says.
“Why was this happening to me? Then I realized it was because I was a woman”
Shirazi tells CFWIJ that the “completely motivated campaign was run by the PTI government” on social media and was picked by the channel that ran the story for 24 hours.
The case, fought by an all-women legal team, including Nighat Dad, Irum Shuja, Aqsa Javed, and Shafia Imran Lati, against the state-owned media watchdog’s complaint body, highlights the ongoing struggle against gender-targeted disinformation. The Council of Complaints of Pemra initially dismissed Shirazi's complaint, leading her to seek justice through the high court.
In its groundbreaking decision, the Islamabad High Court not only sided with Shirazi but also imposed fines on ARY News for its role in spreading the false story. The court's directive for the channel to issue an on-air apology to Shirazi and encouragement for her to pursue defamation charges mark a historic moment in Pakistan's legal and media landscape.
Celebrating the verdict in her favor while speaking with the CFWIJ, Shirazi said the win was impossible without the help of her community and friends, terming the success “collective.”
Shirazi’s lawyer Nighat Dad also termed the win “significant” and the decision a “landmark”.
“Shirazi fought this case for the entire journalist community, especially women journalists who have always been a target of disinformation campaigns, abuse, harassment, violence, and trolling,” she tells CFWIJ.
Dad says the verdict is a breakthrough, not only in terms of Shirazi’s own work but also in strengthening her credibility as a journalist.
“This sets a very good precedent and encourages journalists and individuals and restores their faith in the justice system that even if one platform of justice denies them a fair trial when they are persisted in seeking justice, they get it,” she adds.
“Shirazi fought this case for the entire journalist community, especially women journalists who have always been a target of disinformation campaigns, abuse, harassment, violence, and trolling”
Continuous Targeting
Shirazi was targeted previously in an organized manner by the then-ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with backing from the country’s powerful military establishment that had brought them into power in July 2018. The CFWIJ and WPF has documented Shirazi’s ordeal numerous times in the past with regard to her harassment, both online and offline.
The journalist’s safety was also compromised during the PTI government’s rule when unknown men broke into her house in July 2019 while she and her family were away. Shirazi is no stranger to digital harassment, doxing, and character assassination, as she remains one of the most targeted women journalists in Pakistan owing to her fearless journalism and commitment to speaking and writing the truth.
In June 2021, a petition for treason charges was registered against Shirazi and fellow journalist Hamid Mir, reportedly by PTI supporters, following Mir’s criticism of Pakistan’s military.
The journalist is extremely relieved that she has finally been vindicated.
“After almost two years since I initiated my case, I have finally received justice”
“I’m also extremely encouraged after the IHC’s decision. I already have another complaint filed in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against someone who resorted to character assassination against me,” she tells CFWIJ.
“After almost two years since I initiated my case, I have finally received justice.”
This landmark ruling, celebrated by the Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom, establishes a critical precedent for journalists combatting attacks on their credibility. The significance of this verdict extends beyond Shirazi's personal victory. It sends a powerful message to journalists, particularly women, who often bear the brunt of online harassment and disinformation campaigns. Shirazi's struggle and eventual triumph over a disinformation campaign orchestrated by powerful political forces serve as a testament to her resilience and commitment to truth. The ruling is a testament to the importance of standing up against disinformation and defending journalistic integrity. It reinforces the role of the judiciary in safeguarding press freedom and holding those accountable who seek to manipulate and silence the truth. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom hopes this precedent will encourage more journalists to confront disinformation head-on, inspire the judicial system to protect the press, and discourage bad actors from defaming the media, ensuring a safer and more truthful media environment in Pakistan.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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