Pakistan’s Media Landscape Shrinks as State Clampdown Intensifies: Report
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistani media is facing an existential crisis amid increasing threats to press freedom, rising censorship, and growing legal and physical risks to journalists, according to Freedom Network’s latest report titled “Free Speech and Public Interest Journalism Under Siege.”
The report, launched ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, offers a grim overview of the state of freedom of expression and media rights in Pakistan from May 2024 to April 2025. Authored by veteran journalists Adnan Rehmat and Iqbal Khattak, it highlights a deteriorating media landscape marked by increased state control, shrinking civic space, and escalating dangers for media practitioners.
“This is a rare and alarming moment in Pakistan’s media history,” said Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network. “The state has become more intolerant of critical voices, posing a serious threat not only to journalism but to the democratic fabric of the country.”
The report attributes much of this decline to amendments made in January 2025 to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which it says now allows authorities greater leverage to arrest, fine, and imprison journalists and dissidents both online and offline.
According to the findings, five journalists were killed during the reporting period — three in Sindh and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At least 82 journalists and media professionals faced threats, harassment, or violence. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emerged as the most dangerous province for journalists with 22 reported cases, followed by Islamabad (20), Punjab (18), Balochistan (4), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1).
The report also documented at least 14 legal cases filed against journalists — the majority under PECA — with eight resulting in arrests or detentions.
Among the key challenges identified were state censorship, legal intimidation, gender disparities in media, political polarization, the spread of disinformation, and threats to the safety and credibility of journalists. While women’s participation in media has increased, the report noted ongoing inequalities and underrepresentation across platforms.
In response to the growing threats, Freedom Network has called for the formation of a national movement to defend freedom of expression and the right to dissent. The report advocates for a new national charter on digital rights that ensures equal constitutional protections online and offline, universal access to quality internet, and the safeguarding of digital freedoms.
“Without urgent reform and collective action, the space for independent journalism will continue to shrink, depriving citizens of critical information they need to make informed decisions,” Khattak warned.
The findings come at a time when press freedom is globally under pressure, and Pakistan’s media community increasingly finds itself under siege — caught between authoritarian controls, legal clampdowns, and a hostile working environment.
