LAHORE, 10 July 2025: Findings of a new research study by media watchdog Freedom Network have highlighted an alarming and complex set of challenges for journalists operating in South Punjab, also known as “Seraiki belt,” under “intense pressure from entrenched different actors.
The report, titled “Journalism in South Punjab: State of Media Freedom, Access to Information and Safety of Journalists and Other Media Professionals in South Punjab – Way Forward,” was part of Freedom Network series of reports to look into state of media freedoms in peripheries.
The report was launched in Lahore on Thursday, according to a press release issued here. Freedom Network launched similar report about Gilgit Baltistan last month.
“We hope this report will attract attention of policy and decision-makers besides unions of journalists and media houses to respond to the situation needing urgent redressal before it is too late,” Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak said on the occasion of launch of the report in Lahore where all stakeholders were invited to the launch ceremony.
The publication of this report came with technical support from International Media Support which pioneered in partnering with local stakeholders to make safety of journalists a “national agenda” after the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity was launched in 2012 in five pilot countries, including Pakistan.
“Journalists in South Punjab face a wide spectrum of threats, including direct violence, censorship, legal intimidation, and economic exploitation. Physical attacks, such as the murder of journalists like Ashfaq Sial in Muzaffargarh in May 2024, exemplify the extreme risks faced by reporters who dare to expose corruption and injustice,” the report pointed out.
“Our history is full of tragic stories of violence against journalists, including murders. Instead of learning from these experiences, we are heading further into a dangerous zone. Government intervention and efforts by human rights activists are required to ensure journalists’ protection,” former Punjab governor Rafiq Rajwana was quoted in the report as emphasizing.
“Despite these systemic challenges, journalists in South Punjab continue to persevere, often at great personal and professional risk. Their resilience is a testament to their commitment to the profession and their communities. However, without systemic reforms, these challenges will continue to erode the role of journalism as a pillar of democracy,” the report warned.
Its findings read: “Despite distinct identity of South Punjab region, it remains underrepresented in national media discourse, with most major outlets prioritizing urban centers like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad only. This marginalization creates an information vacuum, where local issues often go unreported or are misrepresented.”
“Compounding this neglect is the decline of print journalism, once a cornerstone of regional media, now struggling under the weight of rising costs, dwindling government support, and competition from electronic and digital platforms.”
Safety concerns of journalists remained high, the report underscored. “The threats to journalists in South Punjab are multifaceted. Reporters face direct violence from powerful local actors, including feudal lords, political elites, and extremist groups besides state actors, including powerful intelligence agencies, and bureaucracy.
The research report found that 28 cases of threats against journalists were documented during the period of 2021-September 2024. The threat cases included two murders of journalists and seven assaults resulting injury also.
“Legal challenges, such as frivolous lawsuits and false FIRs, are frequently used to intimidate journalists and stifle critical reporting,” the report
The report also made certain recommendations to address the situation. They include advocacy for media freedoms, networking for native media with national peers, assistance for digital media, need for support and resources for women in media, safety and digital trainings, and media and civil society engagement to jointly work for solutions to these challenges.
Click the hyperlink to download full PDF version of the report
