Press Statement
ISLAMABAD, 29 April 2026: Pakistan’s media landscape witnessed a significant contraction of space for free expression during the last one year, driven by escalating legal, regulatory, and economic besides other pressures, media watchdog Freedom Network’s latest annual report on the status of media freedoms and journalists’ safety reveals.
The report, titled “Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression – Legal Controls and PECA Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan”, identified the amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law as the most “consequential instrument” being used to restrict journalists and free speech practitioners.
Originally enacted in 2016 to combat cybercrimes, draconian amendments in 2025 to the law’s provisions have increasingly been used in 2025-26 to criminalize lawful expression, target dissent and intimidate journalists, lawyers and political commentators, the report said.
Freedom Network released the report to mark the World Press Freedom Day, observed globally and in Pakistan on 3 May every year.
“The weaponization of PECA has created a climate of fear where journalists are compelled to self-censor to avoid legal repercussions,” said Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak. “This represents one of the most serious threats to media freedom in Pakistan today.”
The report, according to a press released issued by the organization, highlighted high-profile convictions of human rights lawyers, including Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, as examples of how custodial sentences are used to deter dissent. In addition, dozens of journalists have faced charges under expanded provisions of PECA, while defamation suits, regulatory suspensions and internet shutdowns further constrained independent journalism.
“Pakistan’s broader legal and regulatory framework reinforced 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 The persistence of secrecy through outdated laws continues to weaken transparency and accountability,” one of the report’s findinds said.
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 monitoring online content, coupled 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 May 2025 India-Pakistan brief war, when doctored visuals and recycled footage circulated widely across media platforms, distorting public understanding of events.
In terms of journalist safety, the report documented at least 129 verified incidents of violations during the review period, which ranged between April-2025 to 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 murder, 58 legal cases (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 underscored the persistent 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 seeking to cover 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 reliance 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 deepfake abuse and detentions further illustrated these challenges.
Despite these constraints, 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 adoption of AI remains limited due to infrastructural and linguistic barriers, concerns around misinformation and lack of oversight persist. However, some initiatives indicate early steps toward responsible integration of technology in media practices in the country.
The report concludes that the cumulative impact of these developments has significantly narrowed the space for free expression in Pakistan with journalists, citizens and rights defenders 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 RTI frameworks. It also urges providing legal and institutional support to journalists and promoting ethical use of emerging technologies.
“Without such measures,” the report warns, “Pakistan’s media will remain trapped in a cycle of coercion, censorship and economic fragility, with serious implications for democratic accountability and freedom of expression.”
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