PAKISTAN MEDIA MONITOR – September 2025
A monthly report on trends relating to state of journalism and media rights, policies and practices
Tracking:
Media related laws, policies and regulations
The state of media professionalisms
The state of media economy
Threats and attacks against journalists and information practitioners
Vol. 6, No. 9 – September 2025 Edition
Produced by Freedom Network – www.fnpk.org
SECTION 1: Media related laws, policies, regulations, mechanisms
- Freedom of expression (FOE)
- Right to information (RTI), access to information (ATI)
- Federal and provincial governments (relevant ministries and departments)
- Media related regulators (PPC, PEMRA, PTA)
- Regulatory issues related to print, electronic and digital media
PIC orders Gujranwala MC to release budget register and vehicle repair records
Date: September 10, 2025 – Source: The News
The Punjab Information Department (PIC) ordered the Municipal Corporation (MC) Gujranwala to provide copies of its 2023-2024 budget control register and vehicle maintenance records, stating that public information cannot be withheld due to alleged misconduct or lack of justification.
PIC directs Chakwal DEO to release employee records
Date: September 11, 2025 – Source: The News
The Punjab Information Commission (PIC) partially allowed a complaint against the Chakwal District Education Officer (DEO), directing the department to provide certified copies of an employee’s official record within seven days.
SECTION 2: The state of media professionalisms
- Media independence issues
- Public interest journalism practices and challenges
- Ethical journalism issues
- The state of thematic journalism
- Community-focused media
- Misinformation / disinformation / fake news
Journalist’s contract with PTV suspended following controversial ethnic remarks
Date: September 2, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) suspended journalist Rizwan Razi after a personal video surfaced in which he referred ethnic Sindhis as the “offspring of monkeys”. The video drew criticism online and prompted disciplinary action.
Journalist apologizes after ethnic remarks spark outrage
Date: September 4, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalist Rizwan Razi issued a public apology following backlash over a controversial video in which he made disparaging remarks about the people of Sindh while discussing dam construction and flood prevention.
Defamation case: Court summons Prime Minister via video link
Date: September 9, 2025 – Source: The News
A local court in Lahore summoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appear via video link for cross-examination in a Rs10 billion defamation case he filed against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Date: September 10, 2025 – Source: The News
Pakistan faces an invisible war of narratives. We must raise citizens who question messages and messengers alike, and who can see through polished propaganda to uncover the truth. This is not a call for blind loyalty, but for informed patriotism – rooted in clarity, courage, and critical thinking.
Government forms body to counter hate narrative
Date: September 11, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
The federal government unveiled a new peace committee aimed at expanding narrative-building efforts, and assumed the chair of a key regional anti-terror body as part of a broader strategy to counter hate speech and extremism.
Prime Minister seeks urgent cross-examination in defamation suit against PTI founder
Date: September 13, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested a sessions court to conclude his cross examination in a Rs10 billion defamation suit against incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan “within two days”, citing his engagement with meetings on the ongoing flood situation.
Senate body sounds alarm on hate speech
Date: September 16, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News
The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges called the punishment of journalist Rizwan Razi for alleged hate speech against the Sindhi community as “inadequate” and directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ban him from all social media platforms.
Cross-examination of Prime Minister in defamation suit concludes
Date: September 17, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News
The counsel for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan concluded the cross-examination of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a Rs10 billion defamation suit filed by the latter against the former.
President urges youth to cultivate newspaper reading habit
Date: September 25, 2025 – Source: The News
President Asif Ali Zardari urged the country’s youth to develop the habit of reading newspapers and called upon educational institutions to encourage newspaper reading among their students. He hoped that newspaper readership would grow and help build a more informed and democratic Pakistan.
SECTION 3: The state of media economy
- Economic landscape of media industry
- Impact of Covid-19 on media resilience and sustainability
- Government and private advertising for media industry
- Advertising sector and its interface with media industry
- Business viability and sustainability of media
- Wages, salaries and arrears of journalists and media practitioners
IFJ hails union victory as Abb Tak News ‘forced’ to pay staff’s unpaid salaries
Date: September 2, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Amid reports of wage delays and forced layoffs at Abb Tak News, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) successfully secured full payment of overdue salaries. The IFJ and PFUJ praised the outcome as a win for media workers’ rights in Pakistan.
FIA arrests seven in news agency corruption case
Date: September 17, 2025 – Source: Dawn
A special court in Islamabad denied pre-arrest bail to 13 accused in the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) corruption case and ordered their arrest. Following the ruling, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested seven of the accused from within court premises.
Newspaper editors face contempt proceedings over reinstatement of journalists
Date: September 22, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) issued contempt notices to the editors of Daily Dunya. The case involves non-compliance with a February 2025 order to reinstate two journalists dismissed in 2023, with the petitioners claiming the management had yet to implement the ruling.
APNS welcomes withdrawal of amendment to PPRA rules
Date: September 25, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Business Recorder (BR)
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) welcomed the Punjab government’s decision to withdraw the amendment to Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and allow the publication of tender notices in newspapers.
SECTION 4: Threats and attacks against media and information practitioners, including online
- Murders and killings
- Kidnappings and abductions
- Arrests and detentions
- Threats – verbal and written
- Harassment and intimidation – offline and online
- Surveillance, hacking and data breaches
- Legal cases for journalism-related work or free speech
- Impunity of crimes against journalists
- Censorship
Case registered against journalist in harassment case
Date: September 4, 2025 – Source: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
A case was registered against journalist Furqan Rao based on a fact-finding committee’s claims of salary misappropriation. Media unions and leaders condemned the move as political victimization, linked to a dispute over a 2024 union election result.
Journalists, rights activists decry curbs on press freedom
Date: September 5, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Journalists and rights activists expressed concerns over growing restrictions on press freedom in Pakistan, with some comparing the current situation to the media censorship witnessed during General Zia-ul-Haq’s military rule.
Journalist assaulted outside jail after Aleema Khan inquiry
Date: September 9, 2025 – Source 1: Express Tribune, Source 2: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalist Tayyab Baloch was assaulted outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after he posed a question to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan about her alleged properties in the United States (US).
Aleema Khan faces FIR after journalists accosted during presser
Date: September 9, 2025 – Source: Dawn
A routine media talk by Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan took a sour turn after a number of journalists were accosted by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers, ostensibly for asking ‘provocative’ questions. Subsequently, Khan and 40 other PTI-linked activists were booked over the alleged attack.
Aleema Khan condemns violence against journalists
Date: September 10, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune
Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, condemned the violence against journalists outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, describing it as a ‘deliberate attempt’ to create chaos. She alleged that those involved had been “intentionally sent to incite trouble”.
LHC orders action against officials for media interviews of suspects
Date: September 11, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered action against officials facilitating media interviews of under-custody suspects, warning that personnel found involved in the activity would face disciplinary proceedings.
PTI leader acknowledges mistake, apologizes to journalists
Date: September 11, 2025 – Source: The News
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan apologized to journalists regarding an incident of violence meted out to reporters by party workers outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where party founder Imran Khan remains incarcerated.
Senate panel reviews PECA implementation
Date: September 11, 2025 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Daily Times
The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting reviewed the implementation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), ruling that 372 cases registered under PECA by provincial authorities were “illegal” and directed that they be withdrawn.
Date: September 11, 2025 – Source: The News
A new Commonwealth report lists Pakistan among the worst for press freedom, calling conditions “highly restrictive”. It warned that colonial-era laws and vague legislation were being used to curb free expression, posing serious risks to journalists.
Government cracks down on ‘anti-state’ campaigns on social media
Date: September 13, 2025 – Source: The News
The federal government intensified its crackdown on ‘anti-state’ social media campaigns, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registering 365 cases and initiating 789 inquiries to investigate suspects allegedly engaged in posting content targeting state institutions.
Date: September 18, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Following the Pahalgam attack in May, India banned Pakistani media outlets, prompting reciprocal bans from Pakistan. Though armed hostilities ended, access to over 100 media platforms remains blocked on both sides. Unblocking these channels offers mutual benefits and could be a step forward.
Peshawar police bans media interviews of detainees
Date: September 18, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Peshawar police banned video recordings and interviews of detainees in all city police stations. The order prohibits sharing such content on social media or other platforms, warning of legal action for violations. The move follows directives from the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to curb the practice.
Freezing Meher Bokhari’s accounts: What Pakistan’s clampdown on journalists really aims to achieve
Date: September 18, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The FIA’s freezing of journalist Meher Bokhari’s bank account raised concern about Pakistan’s approach to independent journalism. Her husband, Kashif Abbasi – a journalist restricted by a no-fly order and removed from ARY News – condemned the move, questioning if their citizenship rights were revoked.
Study exposes media freedom challenges in AJK
Date: September 19, 2025 – Source 1: Freedom Network (FN), Source 2: Dawn
A report by Freedom Network (FN) highlighted threats to journalism in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), including censorship, harassment, and legal restrictions. Released in partnership with International Media Support (IMS), it underscored declining media freedom and journalist safety in the region.
PFUJ condemns police raids, notices to journalists
Date: September 22, 2025 – Source: The News
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the police raids and notices issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) against crime reporters in Lahore, terming these actions a “serious attack” on press freedom and freedom of expression.
Anchorperson shot at, wounded in ‘targeted attack’
Date: September 23, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today, Source 3: Arab News
Anchorperson Imtiaz Mir was injured in a targeted shooting in Karachi, according to police reports. The attack drew condemnation from government officials, who demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.
Journalist faces pressure after allegedly exposing corruption in Sindh
Date: September 25, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalist Imdad Soomro said he was facing threats and pressure after exposing alleged corruption in the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). He claimed that the Commission’s chairman filed a cybercrime complaint, launched a defamation suit, and urged his newspaper to silence him.
IHC ban on video coverage sparks press freedom concerns
Date: September 25, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) banned all video recording and live streaming on its premises, raising concerns among journalists. The order prohibits recording in court areas and allows security to confiscate recording devices. Critics say the move threatens transparency and press freedom.
PFUJ condemns Punjab’s defamation tribunals, calls law a threat to press freedom
Date: September 25, 2025 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the Punjab government’s notification establishing three defamation tribunals under the controversial Defamation Law. The union described the move as a threat to press freedom and a deliberate effort to silence dissenting voices.
Newsmen move court against NCCIA notices
Date: September 26, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Several Lahore-based crime reporters filed a joint-petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC), challenging notices issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). They claimed NCCIA officials raided their homes soon after issuing notices, urging the court to declare the notices void.
New report flags restrictive trends in Pakistan’s media laws
Date: September 26, 2025 – Source: Institute for Research, Advocacy, and Development (IRADA)
A new research published by the Institute of Research, Advocacy, and Development (IRADA) found that Pakistan’s media legal regime had become increasingly restrictive, undermining freedom of expression, access to information, and citizens’ privacy.
Lahore High Court clarifies film censorship law excludes streaming services
Date: September 27, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Voice.pk
The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed petitions filed by cinema operators seeking to extend the scope of Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979, to cover Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, ruling that the law cannot be applied to digital streaming services.
Lahore High Court suspends NCCIA’s notices against journalists
Date: September 27, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Nation, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a restrictive order against the notices issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to President Lahore Press Club (LPC) Arshad Ansari and several other journalists.
Anchorperson succumbs to injuries week after gun attack in Karachi
Date: September 29, 2025 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Arab News
Anchorperson Imtiaz Mir, who was critically injured in a targeted firing incident in Karachi, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Mir remained under treatment for a week before his condition deteriorated.
OBJECTIVES: This series of monthly report aims to:
- Monitor the state of policies, regulations and mechanisms governing the media sector in Pakistan; the state of freedom of expression and right to information environment in the country and how these interfaces with media freedoms allowed or restricted via media regulations governed by the print, electronic and internet regulators.
- Track the state of media professionalisms in the country including ethical and public interest journalism practices and challenges, and the challenges of misinformation, disinformation and fake news phenomena.
- Follow the changing economic dynamics of the media industry and how they impact the business viability and sustainability of media and exploitation of media staff in lieu of their wages and arrears.
- Scrutinize threats and attacks against media and information practitioners, the state of impunity of crimes against journalists and efforts to provide justice for those aggrieved and distressed.
INFORMATION SOURCES: This report monitors, among others, the following sources of information:
- Government: Federal and provincial cabinets
- Ministries: Related ministries, including Information and Broadcasting, Information Technology (IT) and Telecom, Human Rights, Science and Technology, Commerce and Industry, etc.
- Legislatures: Senate, National Assembly, provincial assemblies, relevant standing committees
- Regulators: Pakistan telecommunications Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Press Council of Pakistan (PPC), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), etc.
- Global organizations: UN/Unesco, International Media Support (IMS), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), etc.
- National organizations: Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), BoloBhi, Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD), Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), etc.
- Media: Dawn, The News, Express Tribune, The Nation, Pakistan Today, The Friday Times, etc.
- Social Media:Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Local networks: Journalists Safety Hubs Network, Alliance on Diversity & Pluralism in Media, etc.
- Any other open public information sources.
