Through the Lens of Law: The Untold Struggles of Pakistan’s Photographers- Written by: Muhammad Saleem A Chaudhry Advocate

Below is a concise summary table for the article Through the Lens of Law: The Untold Struggles of Pakistan’s Photographers by Muhammad Saleem Chaudhry, Advocate High Court and CEO of “Saleem & Sarim Law Firm.” This table distills the key points of each section, capturing the legal challenges, real-world struggles, and urgent calls for reform faced by photographers in Pakistan.

Section	Summary
Introduction	Photography drives a PKR 10 billion industry in Pakistan, yet 68% of its 10,000+ professionals face copyright theft due to outdated laws, risking their livelihoods and the nation’s cultural storytelling.
Legal Framework	The Copyright Ordinance, 1962 offers limited protection in a pre-digital era, while vague privacy laws under Article 14 and the harsh Official Secrets Act, 1923 leave photographers vulnerable.
Photographer’s Plight	Copyright theft (68% affected), cultural backlash (e.g., attacks for photographing women), and legal harassment near sensitive sites plague photographers, with only 15% seeking justice due to high costs.
Case Studies	Ali Raza’s PKR 50,000 copyright win barely broke even; Imran Khan’s alleged photo misuse stirred outrage; Sana Khan’s detention exposed the risks—real stories of a failing system.
Reform or Bust	A Pakistani DMCA is critical for 30 million daily social media images, alongside clearer privacy laws and a Photographers’ Rights Agency to cut red tape and educate the 55% unaware of their rights.
Photos in Court	Photos as evidence under Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 face authentication issues (e.g., a Karachi case); modern metadata standards and expert panels are needed to end courtroom guesswork.
The Big Picture	Photography shapes Pakistan’s identity and economy, yet outdated laws and piracy threaten its survival—urgent reform is a must to protect these “warriors” and their art.

This table highlights the article’s core message: Pakistan’s photographers are battling a broken legal system, and immediate action—modern laws, better enforcement, and public support via #PakPhotographyRights—is essential to safeguard their future.

#PakPhotographyRights

#Photography

#Pakistanpolitics

#Pakistan

#law

Through the Lens of Law:

The Untold Struggles of Pakistan’s Photographers.

Imagine this: You’re a photographer in Pakistan, framing the vibrant chaos of Karachi’s streets or the timeless beauty of Hunza’s peaks. Your camera clicks, capturing a moment of history—only for that same shot to land you in a courtroom, a jail cell, or a cultural firestorm. In a nation where photography fuels a PKR 10 billion industry and employs over 10,000 professionals, the laws meant to protect artists are outdated, enforcement is a mirage, and the risks are all too real. Did you know that 68% of Pakistani photographers have had their work stolen, yet only 15% dare to fight back legally? This isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a crisis threatening the soul of Pakistan’s cultural storytellers.

As Muhammad Saleem A Chaudhry, Advocate High Court and CEO of “Saleem & Sarim Law Firm,” I’ve spent decades navigating Pakistan’s legal landscape. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on the laws governing photography—laws that promise protection but deliver peril. Backed by hard data, gripping case studies, and the voices of those on the frontlines, this article explores the legal framework, the daily battles photographers face, the urgent need for reform, and the murky role of photos in courtrooms. Buckle up—this is a story that demands to be shared.

The Legal Framework: A Shaky Foundation

Photography in Pakistan is governed by the Copyright Ordinance, 1962, a relic from a pre-digital age. Under Section 2(c)(i), photographs are “artistic works,” entitled to copyright protection for 50 years after the photographer’s death (Section 20(3)). Sounds solid, right? Not quite. Ownership gets messy: while the photographer is typically the first owner (Section 13), hired gigs or commissioned shoots often hand the rights to employers or clients (Section 13(b)).

Privacy laws? They’re a gray area, leaning on Article 14 of the Constitution—“the dignity of man and privacy of home shall be inviolable.” But what about snapping photos in public? No clear answer. Then there’s the Official Secrets Act, 1923, a sledgehammer that bans photography near military or sensitive sites, with penalties up to 14 years in prison. These laws sound protective, but they’re riddled with gaps wider than the Indus Valley.

The Photographer’s Plight: A War on Creativity

Pakistan’s 10,000+ professional photographers—many fueling a wedding industry worth billions—face a triple threat: copyright theft, cultural backlash, and legal harassment. Here’s the raw truth:

• Copyright Chaos: Pakistan’s been on the U.S. Trade Representative’s Special 301 Watch List since 1989 for rampant piracy. A 2021 Pakistan Photographers Association (PPA) survey dropped a bombshell: 68% of photographers have seen their work stolen—used on billboards, websites, or social media without a dime paid. Yet only 15% pursue legal action. Why? Suing costs over PKR 100,000, while registering a copyright is a bureaucratic slog at PKR 2,000 a pop. The math doesn’t add up.
• Cultural Minefield: Photographing women or religious sites can ignite fury. In 2019, a photographer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was attacked for shooting a women’s market, left bruised and shaken. In 2022, another was fined PKR 10,000 in Multan for snapping a shrine’s restricted zone. “Every click feels like a gamble,” says Lahore-based photographer Ayesha Malik. “Will it be art, or will it be trouble?”
• Harassment Horror: Near government sites, even press credentials don’t save you. In 2020, photojournalist Sana Khan was detained for three hours while covering a Lahore protest—her crime? Holding a camera too close to the Punjab Assembly. The PPA estimates 40% of pros struggle to get permits for heritage sites like Lahore Fort, bogged down by red tape.

Case Studies: Where Law Meets Life

Real stories bring the stakes into focus:

• Ali Raza’s Victory (2018): Karachi’s Ali Raza sued a magazine for swiping his aerial shot of Port Grand. He won PKR 50,000—a legal win, sure, but it barely covered his lawyer’s fees. “Justice shouldn’t bankrupt you,” he told me.
• Imran Khan’s Blunder (2020): Even former PM Imran Khan wasn’t above the fray. Accused of using a photo without permission, he sparked a firestorm—and a photographer’s public cry for accountability. If the top brass can’t respect copyright, who will?
• Sana’s Detention (2020): Sana Khan’s ordeal wasn’t just a personal nightmare—it was a wake-up call. “I thought my press ID would protect me,” she said. “I was wrong.”

These aren’t outliers—they’re symptoms of a system failing its artists.

Reform or Bust: The Digital Age Demands Change

The Copyright Ordinance, 1962, was written before Instagram existed. Today, 30 million images flood Pakistani social media daily (Statista, 2022), many pilfered. We need a Pakistani DMCA—a law to yank stolen content off platforms like Facebook (50 million users in Pakistan) and Instagram (40 million). Privacy rules need teeth, too—clear guidelines on public photography to shield both shooters and subjects.

And enforcement? It’s a joke. A Photographers’ Rights Agency could streamline copyright fights, slash registration fees, and educate artists—55% don’t even know their rights (PPA, 2021). Plus, let’s train police to stop harassing photographers over vague “security” claims. India’s Copyright Board shows it can work—why not us?

Photos in Court: Evidence or Enigma?

Under the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (Article 164), photos can be evidence—if you prove they’re legit. In a 2021 Karachi case, a photo of stolen goods was challenged as fake; it took two months and an expert to settle it. Compare that to the U.S., where metadata rules cut through the noise. Pakistan’s courts need metadata standards and expert panels—no more guesswork.

The Big Picture: Culture, Cash, and Change

Photography isn’t just art—it’s Pakistan’s memory bank. From weddings to war zones, these images shape our identity. Yet we’re strangling the creators. The industry pumps PKR 10 billion into the economy, but smartphone snappers and piracy are slashing rates—some pros charge just PKR 20,000 for work costing twice that to produce.

We need action:

• Modern laws for a digital world.
• Protection from harassment and theft.
• Education so photographers know their rights.

Your Turn: Make It Viral

This isn’t just my fight—it’s ours. Share your photography story with #PakPhotographyRights. Ever had a photo stolen? Faced a cop’s glare for a harmless shot? Let’s flood the internet with these truths. Together, we can push lawmakers to see what’s at stake.

Pakistan’s photographers aren’t just artists—they’re warriors. It’s time their laws caught up.

Infographic Highlights

• 10,000+ pro photographers in Pakistan.
• PKR 10B: Photography market size.
• 68%: Photographers hit by copyright theft.
• 15%: Those who fight back legally.
• 30M: Daily social media images in Pakistan.

(Sources: PPA, Statista, Saleem & Sarim Law Firm analysis)