The Freedom Network report blames PECA, legal and financial pressures for worsening press freedom and journalist safety
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s media landscape witnessed a significant contraction of space for freedom of expression over the past year, driven by escalating legal, regulatory and economic, among other pressures.
This has been revealed in the media watchdog Freedom Network’s latest annual report on the state of media freedom and journalists’ safety.
The report, titled “Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression – Legal Control and PECA Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan”, identified the amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) as the most “consistent instrument” used to restrict journalists and exercisers of freedom of expression.
Originally enacted in 2016 to combat cybercrime, draconian changes in 2025 to the law’s provisions have increasingly been used in 2025-26 to criminalize lawful speech, target dissent and intimidate journalists, lawyers and political commentators, the report said.
Freedom Network released the report to mark World Press Freedom Day, observed globally and in Pakistan on May 3 every year.
“The weaponization of PECA has created a climate of fear where journalists are forced to self-censor to avoid legal consequences,” said Freedom Network CEO Iqbal Khattak. “This represents one of the most serious threats to media freedom in Pakistan today.”
The report highlighted high-profile convictions by human rights lawyers, including Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, as examples of how custodial sentences are used to deter dissent, according to a press release issued by the organization.
In addition, dozens of journalists have been charged under expanded provisions of Peca, while defamation cases, regulatory suspensions, and Internet shutdowns further limited independent journalism.
“Pakistan’s broader legal and regulatory framework compounded these challenges. Although right-to-information laws exist, their implementation remains inconsistent, with federal institutions particularly resistant to disclosure. The persistence of secrecy through outdated laws continues to weaken transparency and accountability,” says one of the report’s findings.
The report also notes that state-led efforts to counter disinformation and hate speech are often accompanied by increased surveillance and selective enforcement. Regulatory bodies that monitor online content, combined with vague definitions of “fabricated news,” blur the line between misinformation and legitimate dissent.
According to the report, the risks associated with disinformation became particularly evident during the brief India-Pakistan war in May 2025, when doctored images and recycled footage circulated widely across media platforms, distorting public understanding of events.
Regarding journalist safety, the report documented at least 129 verified incidents of violations during the investigation period, which ranged between April-2025 and March-2026. Legal threats and physical violence accounted for nearly two-thirds of these cases.
Among these violations include two murders, five cases of threats to kill, 58 lawsuits (mostly Peca-invoked), 16 cases of assault, 11 cases of threats to harm, and two cases of kidnapping and enforced disappearance.
Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa emerged as the most dangerous regions for journalists, while murders in Sindh and Balochistan underlined the continuing risks. State authorities were suspected as the leading perpetrators, responsible for over 60 percent of violations, primarily through legal and custodial actions. Non-state actors, including militant groups and criminal networks, also contributed to threats, assaults and killings.
The detention of three female journalists in Islamabad who attempted to cover the Aurat March in March 2026 highlighted the gendered dimension of these risks. Across Pakistan, journalists also faced economic pressures, including delayed salaries, job insecurity and dependence on government advertising, which further undermined editorial independence.
Women journalists, the report said, remained particularly marginalized within the media sector. Harassment, online abuse and workplace discrimination continued to create a hostile environment. Cases involving profoundly false abuses and detentions further illustrated these challenges.
Despite these limitations, some progress was noted, including leadership initiatives and the appointment of Ambreen Jan as the first female head of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
The report also examines the evolving role of technology in Pakistani journalism. While AI adoption remains limited due to infrastructural and language barriers, concerns remain about misinformation and lack of oversight. However, some initiatives indicate early steps towards responsible integration of technology into media practices in the country.
The report concludes that the cumulative effect of these developments has significantly narrowed the space for freedom of expression in Pakistan, with journalists, citizens and rights activists operating in an increasingly restrictive environment.
The report emphasizes urgent reforms, including revisiting restrictive provisions of Peca, strengthening the implementation of journalist safety laws and ensuring transparency through effective enforcement of the RTI framework. It also urges providing legal and institutional support to journalists and promoting the ethical use of new technologies.
“Without such measures,” the report warns, “Pakistan’s media will remain trapped in a cycle of coercion, censorship and economic fragility, with serious consequences for democratic accountability and freedom of expression.”
