Says authorities must make clear they will not use broad legal threats to silence critical reporting
Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar addresses a press conference in Islamabad on July 20, 2023. PHOTO: PID/ File
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday raised concerns and flagged risks of self-censorship over Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s warning of possible legal action against journalists and commentators who crossed “red lines” while discussing Pakistan’s foreign policy amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
CPJ’s Asia-Pacific regional director, Beh Lih Yi, expressed alarm at the minister’s statement in a post on X. “We are alarmed by Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s warning that Pakistani journalists and commentators may face prosecution for critical coverage of foreign policy,” she said.
The media watchdog said independent analysis and reporting on international affairs was essential to the public’s understanding of how global developments affect domestic issues.
“What happens abroad affects people at home, and threats like this can promote self-censorship among the press, ultimately undermining the public’s right to information,” Yi said.
#Pakistan: CPJ is alarmed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s vague threat of legal action against journalists and commentators who cross “red lines” when discussing foreign policy. Independent analysis and reporting of international affairs is essential to the public’s… pic.twitter.com/S03u4gjIUr
— CPJ Asia (@CPJAsia) March 12, 2026
She called on the government to ensure that no journalists were targeted for their work. “The Pakistani authorities must make clear that they will not use broadly worded legal threats or political pressure to silence critical reporting on foreign policy,” it added.
CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom around the world and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
The statement came a day after Tarar urged media organizations and online commentators to exercise caution when discussing Pakistan’s foreign policy, saying certain analyzes had caused “unease” among friendly countries.
The minister had said that comments made by Pakistan had led to diplomatic inquiries from abroad as to whether such views represented official policy or personal opinion.
Read: Government warns against ‘sensational’ comments on foreign policy, cites national security concerns
Tarar referred to Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, but said such views must remain within constitutional limits.
“As far as Pakistan’s foreign policy and its relationship with the Gulf is concerned […] we cannot speculate if Pakistan is with Iran, what it might mean for its relationship with Saudi Arabia […] or if we are with the UAE, what does that mean for our relationship with Saudi Arabia.”
The minister also warned that negative vlogs or comments on relations between countries aimed at gaining online views could harm Pakistan’s interests.
“Sensationalizing to gain views is harmful. In the current situation, spreading sensationalism is not a service to the country,” he had said.
Tarar cautioned against “sensational” comments on Pakistan’s foreign policy and warned that action would be taken if “red lines” were crossed.
The minister did not mention any individual or social media account. However, since the conflict in the region escalated, several vloggers and online commentators have discussed the situation while raising questions about Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Also read: Iran’s new supreme leader reaffirms the importance of the Hormuz closure and vows to continue attacking US bases in the Gulf states
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East following US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Pakistan has reiterated its strong strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia while calling for restraint to prevent a wider regional conflict.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also discussed the developing situation during a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing that dialogue and diplomatic engagement were essential to ensure peace, stability and de-escalation in the region.
At the same time, the prime minister’s foreign media spokesman, Mosharraf Zaidi, said Pakistan would stand firm with Saudi Arabia if required, highlighting the depth of ties between the two countries.
Iran has responded to the US-Israeli attacks by launching waves of drone and missile strikes not only against Israel but also against Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, which host US military installations, drawing the region deeper into the conflict.
The escalation has hit key infrastructure, including airports, ports, hotels and oil and military facilities across the Gulf countries.
The attacks have also disrupted oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for around a fifth of the world’s oil and LNG, while airspace closures across the region have forced airlines to cancel around 40,000 flights, the biggest disruption to global air travel since the Covid-19 pandemic.
