In 1961, Press laws were reformed and all the newspapers strongly condemned that move and
demanded that Ayub government should revise it. So in 1963, government revised it but still it was
without much flexibility.
According to the Press Act of 1823, declaration was submitted to the government official (Deputy
Commissioner) who was not supposed to decline it as it was not considered a license. Ayub
government announced that Deputy Commissioner had the right to refuse the declaration so for
the first time it was treated as a license. It was a strong check against anti-government newspapers.
District Magistrates started a practice with the support of government to gather secret information
regarding the person who filed the declaration. So it became a common practice that the applicant
was blamed in any charge by the Commissioner and he gave a verdict against him. This was against
the ethics of law that Commissioner was given the right to blame and also to make a decision.
Advertising plays a major role in profit taking of newspapers and government sector
advertisements are very important for any newspaper. Governments usually use this policy to
pressurize newspapers and governments do not give advertisements to anti-government
newspapers. Ayub government also used this famous tool to manipulate newspapers.
In Pakistan almost all the printing material is imported and import license is required to import
these materials. Ayub government restricted the quantity of import material for anti-government
newspapers to pressurize them and to stop their circulation on a large scale.
During 1965 war, radio, television and newspapers supported government stance and the
unrealistic and exaggerated stance regarding the victory in war was presented to the people. But
when Tashqand agreement was signed in Jan 1966 and people protested against it because
government was declaring it as victory and Tashqand was humiliation in the eyes of the people. So
protests against government started and a student died. This helped to build a mass movement
against the government and ultimately it ended on the resign of Gen Ayub Khan in March 1969. It
was a direct result of a wrong media policy by hiding facts from the government.
Government celebrated “A decade of development” in 1968 and radio television and newspapers
were used as mouth piece of government.
Mass media is a source by which rulers can well understand what people think and what they want
and it plays a role of a watchdog. They give direct response to government policies because they are
directly affected by that policy. Ayub Khan closed that channel so government remained blind to
public opinion and it resulted in severe hatred against government policies which ultimately lead to
the fall of Ayub Khan.
demanded that Ayub government should revise it. So in 1963, government revised it but still it was
without much flexibility.
According to the Press Act of 1823, declaration was submitted to the government official (Deputy
Commissioner) who was not supposed to decline it as it was not considered a license. Ayub
government announced that Deputy Commissioner had the right to refuse the declaration so for
the first time it was treated as a license. It was a strong check against anti-government newspapers.
District Magistrates started a practice with the support of government to gather secret information
regarding the person who filed the declaration. So it became a common practice that the applicant
was blamed in any charge by the Commissioner and he gave a verdict against him. This was against
the ethics of law that Commissioner was given the right to blame and also to make a decision.
Advertising plays a major role in profit taking of newspapers and government sector
advertisements are very important for any newspaper. Governments usually use this policy to
pressurize newspapers and governments do not give advertisements to anti-government
newspapers. Ayub government also used this famous tool to manipulate newspapers.
In Pakistan almost all the printing material is imported and import license is required to import
these materials. Ayub government restricted the quantity of import material for anti-government
newspapers to pressurize them and to stop their circulation on a large scale.
During 1965 war, radio, television and newspapers supported government stance and the
unrealistic and exaggerated stance regarding the victory in war was presented to the people. But
when Tashqand agreement was signed in Jan 1966 and people protested against it because
government was declaring it as victory and Tashqand was humiliation in the eyes of the people. So
protests against government started and a student died. This helped to build a mass movement
against the government and ultimately it ended on the resign of Gen Ayub Khan in March 1969. It
was a direct result of a wrong media policy by hiding facts from the government.
Government celebrated “A decade of development” in 1968 and radio television and newspapers
were used as mouth piece of government.
Mass media is a source by which rulers can well understand what people think and what they want
and it plays a role of a watchdog. They give direct response to government policies because they are
directly affected by that policy. Ayub Khan closed that channel so government remained blind to
public opinion and it resulted in severe hatred against government policies which ultimately lead to
the fall of Ayub Khan.
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