PAKISTAN MEDIA MONITOR – January 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. 1 – January 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
Parliamentary panel asks government to propose amendments to Information Act of 2017
Date: January 4, 2025 – Source: The News
The Senate Standing Committee on Information called upon the information ministry to propose amendments to the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, following consultations with industry stakeholders.
FAFEN report: Federal ministries ‘flouting’ right to information laws
Date: January 8, 2024 – Source 1: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), Source 2: Dawn
A majority of federal ministries and their divisions were not fully complying with the categorical requirements for proactive disclosure of information on their websites, as embodied in the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2017, according to a report released by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
KP cabinet approves amendments to provincial RTI law
Date: January 28, 2025 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet approved amendments to the KP Right to Information Act, 2013, with changes aimed at enhancing the law’s effectiveness, ensuring improved access to information for citizens, and making government bodies accountable to the public.
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
Date: January 14, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Political polarization in Pakistan has affected views and analyses of what ails the media. For one side, social media is full of lies, misguiding its viewers and listeners. For the other, mainstream media is far too biased and social media provides a voice to the vulnerable who are ignored by the former.
Media persons condemn ‘misogynistic harassment campaign’ against female journalists
Date: January 12, 2024 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Current, Source 3: Journalism Pakistan
Journalist Asma Sherazi denounced a persistent harassment campaign targeting her and other female anchorpersons, saying “enough is enough”, as prominent media persons endorsed a petition by the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) calling for an end to organized harassment by political parties.
Prime Minister views criticism by the press as ‘key’ to better governance
Date: January 24, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Acknowledging that press criticism of its policies was essential for improving governance, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the government welcomed constructive criticism by the media.
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
Cabinet panel allows state-run broadcasters to boost profitability
Date: January 18, 2025 – Source: The News
The Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises granted its nod to the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and Pakistan Television (PTV) for maximizing efficiency and revenue potential, remarking that reforms could turn them into profit-making entities within two years.
KP announces increase in endowment fund for journalists
Date: January 19, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Speaking to a delegation of journalists from Swat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s secretary for information and public relations, Arshad Khan, announced an increase in the endowment fund allocated by the provincial government for journalists.
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
Senate panel raises alarm over censorship policy
Date: January 4, 2024 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
A Senate panel raised concerns over the alleged censorship of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s speeches in parliament, with lawmakers concerned over PEMRA’s “selective actions” against television channels and journalists accused of spreading misinformation.
Media team attacked during sting operation in Karachi
Date: January 10, 2025 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
A media team from a private news channel was attacked by unidentified assailants while conducting a sting operation in Karachi’s Lyari area. The attackers threw scalding water laced with chili powder at the team, followed by physical assault.
HRCP report shines light on selective curbs on media
Date: January 24, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released its report on the state of freedom of expression in the country during the past two years, identifying “new battlegrounds and unholy alliances”, with the tightening of restrictions on selected media outlets.
Journalists, rights bodies denounce PECA changes
Date: January 24, 2025 – Source: Dawn
A coalition of journalists and media bodies vowed to challenge in court the amendments made to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and launch a protest movement, viewing them as detriments to freedom of expression.
Date: January 24, 2025 – Source: The News
The passage of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, has sparked widespread condemnation from journalists across Pakistan. This hastily passed legislation, enacted without meaningful consultation, is being seen as a tool to suppress dissent and control public discourse.
Date: January 24, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) rejected the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2025, due to the absence of prior consultation with media stakeholders.
Senate erupts in protest over PECA bill
Date: January 25, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The Senate witnessed a fierce showdown over the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill, as the federal government attempted to push it forward with the same haste that saw it steamrolled through the National Assembly.
KP Assembly rejects amendments to PECA law
Date: January 25, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly witnessed a day of uproar as journalists and lawmakers joined forces to categorically reject the amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the ‘Digital Pakistan Bill 2024’.
PECA Act tweaks termed anti-free speech
Date: January 25, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
Media watchdog Freedom Network (FN) termed the latest amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) “disproportionate, non-transparent and anti-free speech” and warned that they would lead to a serious risk of silencing dissenting voices and suppressing critical journalism.
Whistleblowers claim retaliation for ‘exposing corruption’
Date: January 26, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Pak-Datacom, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, terminated senior employees who raised concerns about alleged irregularities and financial embezzlement within the state-owned entity.
Media bodies seek Senate panel hearing on changes to PECA law
Date: January 27, 2024 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Business Recorder
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of media bodies consisting of PBA, APNS, CPNE, AEMEND, and PFUJ addressed a letter to the chairman Standing Committee of Senate on Interior, apprising him on the stance of the JAC on the amendments to the PECA bill.
Journalists announce nationwide protest against PECA changes
Date: January 27, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Journalist bodies across Pakistan announced a nationwide protest movement against the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) terming the amendments “against the spirit of the Constitution”.
Senate opposition, journalists walk out over PECA bill
Date: January 28, 2025 – Source: The News
The Senate session witnessed a protest from the opposition, culminating in a walkout by journalists over a controversial bill seeking to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Senate panel approves tweaks to PECA bill
Date: January 28, 2024 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Express Tribune
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), despite strong objections from journalist organizations and media bodies.
Cybercrime law given fangs to bite media
Date: January 29, 2025 – Source: Dawn
The Senate authorized highly contested changes to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), without allowing any amendments to be moved, amid protests by the opposition and a walkout by journalists from the press gallery.
Journalists demand repeal of PECA changes
Date: January 29, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Journalists across Pakistan launched protests against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2025 after it was rushed through the Senate without ‘proper’ debate.
PECA law overhaul gets presidential nod amid growing controversy
Date: January 30, 2024 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: The Nation
President Asif Ali Zardari gave his assent to amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, despite widespread backlash from political parties, journalist bodies and human rights organizations.
Pakistan’s envoy defends media curbs at Washington gathering
Date: January 30, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Concerns over new media restrictions in Pakistan took center-stage at a diplomatic gathering in Washington, prompting Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Shaikh to reaffirm Islamabad’s commitment to freedom of expression.
PECA changes spark media outcry
Date: January 30, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Leading journalistic bodies from around the world joined their Pakistani colleagues in rejecting amendments made to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which became law after presidential assent.
Date: January 30, 2025 – Source: Dawn
Journalists took to the streets in protest; and digital rights experts cried themselves hoarse. But it all fell on deaf ears. And now, after the president’s assent, the PECA amendments have become law, dealing democracy what might as well be termed a death blow.
Journalists, civil society reject PECA amendment as black law
Date: January 31, 2025 – Source: The News
The Karachi Press Club (KPC) announced it will consult all relevant stakeholders for launching a full-fledged protest drive against what it called the “anti-press black law” passed by the parliament to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Lawyers, journalists unite against PECA amendment
Date: January 31, 2025 – Source: Express Tribune
Terming the recently enacted PECA (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act) Amendment Act as a “black law”, lawyers and journalists have united to challenge the legislation in court and launch a nationwide protest drive.
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.
