Exploitation in reporting on Balochistan by Pakistan mainstream media

The core principle of journalism is to pursue and disseminate the truth, expose injustices, serve the public, and hold state institutions and ruling elites accountable. It also strives to ensure equitable representation for all social and ethnic groups, adhering to principles of fairness while avoiding bias or prejudice. The news portrayals of one group yet marginalising others, not only violate journalistic ethics but also undermine democratic norms and values. Globally, media institutions often align with state elites but fail to advocate for marginalised populations. This study, grounded in the Authoritarian Theory of the Press, critically examines how Pakistan’s mainstream media, particularly private television channels and Islamabad-based journalists, report the issues faced by the Baloch people in Balochistan. This study employed a qualitative research design through primary and secondary data collection methods. It includes 17 in-depth interviews and content analysis of 68 news stories from Geo TV News and ARY TV News over a two-year period. The triangulation methodology was used to ensure the validity and reliability of the study findings. The findings reveal that Pakistan’s state institutions, including the military, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as well as Punjabi-ethnic media owners and journalists, exert substantial control over journalistic practices in Balochistan. These entities deliberately suppress coverage of severe human rights violations while amplifying minor issues in Punjab to avoid scrutiny from the international communities and other human rights organisations. Media owners and Islamabad-based journalists neglect Balochistan because they lack the courage to cover it, instead prioritising personal interest and business profits. Consequently, critical issues of the Baloch people, such as enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, poverty, and socioeconomic marginalisation, remain obscured both domestically and internationally. This study critiques the Authoritarian Theory of the Press within the Pakistani context, offering practical recommendations to foster ethical and independent journalism that amplifies marginalised voices and moderates state control