Pakistan is a part of this world, but is developed enough to afford the press a large measure of freedom, perhaps larger than that prevailing in most of the Afro-Asian countries. Freedom of the press is recognised as. one of the fundamental rights of the citizens. The provision in- the constitution is as follows.
“Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of a speech artd expression subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the security of Pakistan, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.”
Thus the nature of restraints is the same as that prevalent in even the most advanced countries. However, there is one difference that it is largely the Executive, rather than judiciary, that has powers to impose penalties. According to all the previous governments it was a temporary phase necessitated by the requirements of a new society yet in the making and as the society made progress, freedom of the press too would make a corresponding progress. However, much is to be desired as yet.