Editing Freedom of the press (section)

====Pakistan====
{{Main|Freedom of the press in Pakistan}}
Article 19 of the constitution of the Pakistan states that: "Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, commission of or incitement to an offence".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/|title=The Constitution of Pakistan|website=www.pakistani.org|access-date=2019-10-03|archive-date=2018-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907231721/http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since independence the electronic media in Pakistan remained dominated by the state-run Pakistan Television and Pakistan Broadcasting CorporationsIronically, press freedom in Pakistan flourished for the first time in 2002 during Gen R Prevaiz Musharraf's era.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/musharrafs-respect-for-press-freedom/|title=Musharraf's respect for press freedom {{!}} Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)|website=www.pakistanpressfoundation.org|access-date=2019-10-03|archive-date=2020-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114181053/https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/musharrafs-respect-for-press-freedom/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

To a large extent the media enjoys freedom of expression in spite of political pressure and direct bans sometimes administered by political stake holders. Political pressure on media is mostly done indirectly. One tool widely used by the government is to cut off 'unfriendly' media from governmental advertising. Using draconian laws, the government has also banned or officially silenced popular television channels. The [[Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority]] (PEMRA) has been used to silence the broadcast media by either suspending licenses or by simply threatening to do so. In addition, media is also threatened by non-state actors involved in the current conflict.

In its 2018 [[Press Freedom Index]], [[Reporters Without Borders]] ranked Pakistan number 139 out of 180 countries based on freedom of the press. The report implied considerable improvement in the freedom of press compared to the preceding years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/ranking|title=2019 World Press Freedom Index {{!}} Reporters Without Borders|website=RSF|date=30 January 2013|access-date=2019-10-03|archive-date=2023-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117010440/https://rsf.org/en/ranking|url-status=live}}</ref>