This isn’t about maintaining order and ensuring stability anymore; it’s about instilling terror, ensuring that every single one of us lives ...
This isn’t about maintaining order and ensuring stability anymore; it’s about instilling terror, ensuring that every single one of us lives in fear, knowing that speaking out could be our last act of defiance. It’s about robbing an entire nation of hope. It’s about turning an already desperate nation to misery. It’s about ensuring that no one dares to dream.
Written by Areeba Hareem
Imagine waking up every day knowing that your private conversations aren’t safe, social media access could be blocked at any moment and your job might be at risk because of a sudden internet shutdown. This is a harsh reality that every Pakistani faces day to day. The very government that should protect and provide fundamental freedoms and constitutional rights is infringing them. Mass surveillance, enforced disappearances, internet shutdowns and growing control over social media, this is nothing but a state-sponsored thuggery. Blinded by power, greed, self-interest and political revenge, the government has pushed the country into greater economic instability, deepening resentment and growing hopelessness.
The Climate of Fear and Repression
When the state turns comedy into a crime and humor becomes an act of defiance, something inside a nation dies. The abduction of Ali Khosa whose only “crime” was making us smile at the absurdity of those powerful, is a reminder of how far the state will go to crush free thought. The government's attempts to silence dissent go beyond physical intimidation. New laws and constitutional amendments are being rushed through without public input. There are rising concerns about the motive behind this rush from a government whose legitimacy itself is questionable. These laws such as the Punjab Defamation Bill 2024, apparently intended to protect public officials are actually tools to suppress dissent. With ambiguous definitions of defamation and harsh punishments for criticism, the state is further limiting any form of dissent, be it a tweet, a poem, a satire video or merely a news report of a press conference. Over the past year, more than 300 journalists and bloggers have faced state coercion, some even being charged with crimes like sedition and terrorism.
The increasing use of surveillance tools by the government, including Israeli spyware from Q Cyber Technologies SARL, has resulted in an unprecedented breach of privacy. Reportedly, journalists, political activists, and even regular citizens are said to be the primary targets. This blatant violation of the right to privacy under Article 14 of Pakistan’s Constitution creates distrust in government and public institutions. Even international organizations such as Amnesty International and Citizen Lab warned that such a widespread misuse of surveillance technologies creates a climate of fear that stifles free speech and dissent. When people are too afraid to speak out, public discourse suffers, and democracy itself is compromised.
This isn’t about maintaining order and ensuring stability anymore; it’s about instilling terror, ensuring that every single one of us lives in fear, knowing that speaking out could be our last act of defiance. It’s about robbing an entire nation of hope. It’s about turning an already desperate nation to misery. It’s about ensuring that no one dares to dream.
Silencing the Messenger, Stifling the Nation
Pakistan's Press Freedom Index ranking has dropped to 152 out of 180 nations. Just between May 2023 and April 2024, four journalists were assassinated, while over 200 others were harassed. The state's overreach is obvious in its handling of social media criticism, which includes the formation of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) to examine state-critical social media campaigns. The government undermines public trust in the media and judiciary by targeting individuals who speak out, resulting in a more polarized political environment.
The unannounced suspension of mobile networks and social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) occasionally, is a failed attempt to control the narrative and limit public discourse. This policy not only restricts individuals from engaging in political discussions but also negatively impacts the economy. Social media and the internet are crucial in the emerging economy, particularly for freelancers, the IT sector, and small businesses. When these platforms are blocked, it’s not just voices that are silenced, it’s also livelihoods that are ruined. And the government in pursuant of blind political revenge, not only fails to recognize but refuses to acknowledge the harm it is inflicting on the economy and people’s livelihood.
Internet Shutdowns and Economic Impact
The frequent internet shutdowns on a whim are the most severe consequences of these oppressive measures. In 2024 alone, Pakistan faced multiple significant internet outages causing severe negative impacts on the digital economy. For students, freelancers, IT professionals, and small businesses, the internet is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity. With over 97% of the country’s 138.3 million internet connections relying on mobile networks, the government’s intentional slowing down of internet speeds and blocking of social media platforms demonstrates where the government’s priorities lie. Evidently not in the economic future of the country, to say the least.
As per a report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2023, Pakistan is heavily impacted by internet shutdowns, resulting in massive annual economic losses of around $1.2 billion. The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) cautions that the IT sector could face losses of up to $300 million due to these disturbances, but this is only the starting point. When you take into account the wider effect on online shopping, internet-based learning, and digital platforms, the setback is massive. These repressive policies are now threatening the potential growth of Pakistan's digital economy, which could have contributed 4% to GDP by 2025.
With an ever growing inflation rate and a debt burden exceeding 80% of GDP, this self-inflicted wound will have grave impact on the economy, if not addressed promptly. The business community, both domestically and internationally, has been deeply affected by the government's decisions. Global investors who were previously interested in Pakistan's thriving technology industry are now withdrawing due to political instability and inconsistent internet connectivity. Pakistan's growth forecast has been decreased by the World Bank due to the negative impact of digital censorship and economic mismanagement.
Silencing a Generation
But perhaps the most unforgivable crime of all is what this government is doing to our youth. Pakistan's vibrant youth, bright, passionate and full of potential, are being pushed to the edge. The internet serves as more than just a place to have fun for them; it’s their essential tool to learn, work, connect, and express themselves in a world that too often tries to silence them. But now, under constant surveillance, every word they utter feels like a risk, every opinion a potential threat to their safety. This isn’t just oppressive, it’s suffocating. It goes against everything this country was supposed to stand for.
Hopelessness and suffocation is so evident that it can be felt even in the air. The government’s apparently intentional ignorance and disillusionment with the situation is making it worse. Surveys conducted in just 2023 alone found 70% of Pakistan’s youth disheartened about what lies ahead of them, citing censorship and economic instability as major factors, is making the situation worse. When you deprive a generation of its voice and strangle its dreams with fear, you don’t just fuel rage, you breed a force of nature that is hard to repel. The government’s refusal to listen, its stubborn insistence on crushing any form of dissent, is fueling a fire that could consume us all.
Normalization of Oppression: Consequences of Accepting State Thuggery
As state thuggery becomes the new normal, the long-term consequences for Pakistan are dire. A society that becomes accustomed to repression and censorship loses its ability to challenge authority and hold leaders accountable. When fear of retaliation becomes deeply rooted in the minds of the public , it hinders innovation, creativity, and critical thinking, all essential elements of a thriving democracy. The normalization and legitimization of such policies undermines trust in institutions, making it harder for any future government to restore democratic norms and rebuild public confidence.
This new normal threatens not just individual freedoms but the very fabric of society. It fosters an environment of fear, terror and silence, where the government can operate with absolute impunity. If not stopped, state thuggery could become so deeply entrenched that it might be nearly impossible to reverse, pushing Pakistan towards authoritarianism, constant unrest and economic instability. The question is not just whether state thuggery is becoming the new normal but whether it will define the future of Pakistan.
