Authorities in Pakistan on Wednesday deported Charles Glass, a British-American journalist and author.

Why? Because he was visiting Pakistan on a visit/tourist visa but wanted to interview the incarcerated PTI founding chairman – Imran Khan.

He had reached Islamabad after applying for and obtaining a visa from the Pakistani embassy in London.  Although some circles are creating an impression that the deportation is an attempt to muzzle media, the facts are otherwise.

When contacted, reliable sources explained the reasons behind the move. According to the sources, when a journalist is visiting a country on a visit/tourist visa, he is not allowed to engage in journalistic activities.

Nevertheless, Glass started journalistic activities that were against media ethics, international norms, and procedures. Media reports suggest that Glass was earlier spotted around the Adiala jail, where Aleema Khan – a sister of the PTI founding chairman accompanied him. It is said that the British journalist is a close friend of Imran, which is the reason why Aleema

In these circumstances, the authorities had to take this extreme decision. In the era of the post-truth world, here are some important points concerning the issue. Tourist visas typically prohibit any form of work, including journalism. Violating visa terms can result in deportation, fines, or bans from entering the country in the future.

Moreover, engaging in professional activities without the appropriate visa is generally considered a violation of immigration and labor laws. This can result in legal consequences, including arrest and deportation.

At the same time, practicing journalism under a tourist visa can be seen as deceptive and unethical. There is another factor that must not be ignored: Respecting the host country’s laws and regulations. It is a fundamental ethical consideration for journalists.

The way Glass was pursuing his objective also coincided with an organized campaign launched against the national institutions. That’s why foreign elements have been very active in distorting facts about what is happening in Pakistan.

PRESS FREEDOM OR PROPAGANDA? 

In the case of Charles Glass, deportation proves that the principles of immigration laws, the journalist’s code of conduct, and national state jurisdiction are intertwined. On the one hand, a journalist has to respect the legislation of the countries that he/she is visiting.

Unquestionably, Glass’s actions were of noble intention and cause but he used the opportunity as a tourist, which Australian law prohibits the holder from engaging in any professional work including practicing journalism.

This is not only a violation of the Pakistani immigration policy but also a violation of the standard norms that exist for journalists all around the world regarding the practice and conduct. This kind of violation can have very serious effects under the law, as is evidenced by Glass’s deportation.

On the other hand, this incident raises a common concern about press freedom and more so the impression created of media oppression. The circumstances of Glass’s attempt to interview Imran Khan, a politically charged individual, cannot but give rise to suspicion regarding the rationale for his deportation.

Some say it might be a move in an overbearing process of silencing opposition and regulating information flow around key political events. This is especially so when the world is experiencing manipulation of the media and of policies, post-truth politics, and the like.

Therefore though one can explain the legal likelihoods of Glass’s deportation in black and white, the presence affects press freedom and the way Pakistan’s political system is perceived regarding its openness in shades of grey.

Both the journalists and the governments have to tread this tightrope carefully in as much as they uphold the laws of the nation as well as the freedom of the media. Achieving this balance is imperative, pertaining to the protection of national security as well as the preservation of journalism’s footprint.