PAKISTAN MEDIA MONITOR – November 2022
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. 3, No. 11 – November 2022 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
Government rules out curbs on freedom of expression
Date: November 3, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah ruled out any curbs on the freedom of expression, insisting that no bill against the rights guaranteed by the Constitution would be passed by the parliament.
PIC orders establishment division to make public assets held by bureaucrats
Date: November 6, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) ordered the federal government’s Establishment Division (ED) to make asset declarations furnished by each service group’s top five bureaucrats public.
Establishment of information body in Balochistan demanded
Date: November 10, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Speakers at a conference demanded the establishment of Balochistan Information Commission and appointments of chief information commissioner without delay in accordance with Section 18 of the Balochistan Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2021.
Information commission in Sindh fails to enforce RTI
Date: November 15, 2022 – Source: Express Tribune
Despite the existence of a provincial right to information (RTI) law, which guarantees citizens access to information with regards to the working of public functionaries, Sindh’s populace has failed to gain anything substantial from it due to bureaucratic hurdles.
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
Federal Investigation Agency to curb ‘social media rumormongering’ in Pakistan
Date: November 2, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
The federal government authorized the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against those who intended to spread ‘rumors and false information against state institutions’ on social media platforms.
Peshawar losing cinemas to commercial plazas
Date: November 7, 2022 – Source: The News
The city of Peshawar has started losing decades-old cinema houses, which have been converted into trade and commercial plazas, depriving thousands of film lovers of entertainment and leisure opportunities.
Former prime minister asks president to define ISPR’s parameters
Date: November 8, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Pakistan Today
Former prime minister Imran Khan called on President Dr Arif Alvi to define ‘clear operational lines’ of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) while also asking him to act against the ‘abuse of power and violations of our laws and of the Constitution’.
UK court denies PM Shehbaz Sharif’s plea for indefinite adjournment in defamation suit
Date: November 12, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today, Source 3: The Print
A United Kingdom court judge ordered Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law Imran Ali Yousaf to file a reply in a defamation suit they brought against the publisher of Mail On Sunday, and also ordered him to pay the sum of GBP 30,000 in costs to the defendant.
Islamabad High Court quashes defamation FIR against citizen for ‘defaming armed forces’ online
Date: November 13, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Islamabad Post
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Babar Sattar quashed a first information report (FIR) filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against a citizen for allegedly ‘defaming the armed forced’ through a tweet and stated that a tweet can ‘neither incite mutiny nor create fear among the masses’.
Date: November 18, 2022 – Source: The News
The term ‘fake news’, as originally understood, as meant to reference deliberately false stories usually pushed by professional trolls to advance their agenda. No one has used this trend in Pakistan better than the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) – both when in power and now when out of it.
Senator held by FIA for ‘defamation, intimidating tweets’
Date: November 28, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Senator Azam Swati – second time in six weeks – for defamation, statements conducing to public mischief, and highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets, after his speech at the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) long march in Rawalpindi.
Farah Khan serves defamation suit on news channel, anchorperson
Date: November 30, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
Farah Khan, a close aide of former prime minister Imran Khan, sent a Rs5 billion legal notice to Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq, Geo News and anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada for airing remarks about her alleged involvement in the sale of Toshakhana gifts.
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
Google Play Store services to no longer be available for Pakistani users
Date: November 26, 2022 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune
Smart phone users in Pakistan will be unable to download Google Play Store services from December 1 after the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revoked the Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) mechanism payment of $34 million to international service providers.
State Bank of Pakistan rebuts reports it withheld payments to Google
Date: November 27, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: The Nation
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) dismissed as ‘baseless and misleading’ reports that it had withheld payments to Google, the telecommunication industry and other stakeholders as the federal government seeks to limit dollar outflow.
APNS concerned over government decision to stop purchase of newspapers, magazines
Date: November 28, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) expressed concern over a reported federal government’s decision that purchase of newspapers and magazines for its offices would be discontinued and called for withdrawal of the move.
DCB crisis: Google changes payment mode for purchase of applications by Pakistani users
Date: November 29, 2022 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Arab News
Google announced that due to local requirements, users in Pakistan will be able to make Play Store purchases through credit or debit cards with effect from December 1, 2022.
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
Punjab government forms panel to probe death of woman journalist
Date: November 1, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Nation
The Punjab government formed a committee to probe the death of woman journalist, Sadaf Naeem, during an accident near Sadhoke while covering the long march organized by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
Retired judge to head commission probing Pakistani journalist’s murder in Kenya
Date: November 1, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News
The federal government appointed a retired judge, Abdul Shakoor Paracha, as chairman of a three-member inquiry commission to probe the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. The two other members of the commission are officials of Islamabad Police (IP) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Journalist’s death casts spotlight on ‘rat race’ of breaking news
Date: November 1, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The tragic death of television reporter Sadaf Naeem while covering the long march organized by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has laid bare the pressures journalists in the field have to face, as well as the lack or professional training available to media practitioners.
Pakistani journalist’s death raises questions about professional safety
Date: November 1, 2022 – Source 1: Voice of America (VOA), Source 2: World News (WN)
The accidental death of Pakistani television reporter Sadaf Naeem while covering the long march organized by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) raised concerns about safety
Faisal Vawda suspects PTI behind journalist’s murder
Date: November 1, 2022 – Source: The News
Former federal minister Faisal Vawda, who has recently been expelled from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), claimed that people belonging to PTI might have been involved in the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
Punjab police ‘thrash’ journalist covering PTI’s protest march
Date: November 1, 2022 – Source: Express Tribune
A television cameraman covering Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) long march in Lahore was subjected to harassment and severe torture by senior house inspector (SHO) Kamoke and other police officials.
Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists dedicated to Arshad Sharif
Date: November 2, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) announced that it was dedicating the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ to Arshad Sharif who was killed under suspicious circumstances in Kenya.
Arshad Sharif’s mother rejects government inquiry commission formed to investigate murder
Date: November 3, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Friday Times (TFT)
Rejecting the government-constituted inquiry commission, the mother of slain journalist Arshad Sharif wrote a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial requesting him to set up a judicial commission to determine the real motive behind her son’s murder in Kenya.
Authorities misbehave with foreign journalists at Peshawar airport
Date: November 3, 2022 – Source 1: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), Source 2: Freedom Network (FN)
Authorities at the Peshawar airport misbehaved with foreign journalists who came to attend the International Peace and Sports Conference organized by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority.
Suspect claims Karachi Kings CEO asked him to invite slain journalist to Kenya
Date: November 4, 2022 – Source: The News
Waqar Ahmed, suspect and friend of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, claimed that it was Karachi Kings Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tariq Wasi who asked him to sponsor the visit of Sharif to Kenya.
Journalist ‘kidnapped, released’ in Islamabad
Date: November 4, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Islamabad Police (IP) formed an inquiry committee under Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Operations to investigate the kidnapping and release of journalist Irfan Raza from Islamabad by unidentified persons.
Arshad Sharif’s family moves court for autopsy report
Date: November 5, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The mother of Arshad Sharif approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking a copy of the slain journalist’s post-mortem medical examination report.
Kenyan medical report alleges Pakistani journalist died from ‘multiple, high-velocity gunshots’
Date: November 5, 2022 – Source: The News
A post-mortem report published by doctors in Kenya claimed that Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was killed due to multiple injuries caused by the firing of a high-velocity firearm from two different directions.
Pakistani probe team completes investigation into journalist’s murder in Kenya
Date: November 5, 2022 – Source 1: Express Tribune, Source 2: The Nation
According to the Foreign Office of Pakistan (FOP), a two-member investigation team that flew into Kenya to probe the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif completed its work and would soon report their findings to the interior ministry.
PEMRA stops news channels from airing PTI leader’s statement about attack on former PM
Date: November 5, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) prohibited private television channels from airing statements made by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar regarding the attack on former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Government scraps PEMRA ban on Imran Khan’s live speeches
Date: November 6, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
The federal government directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to withdraw a ban on the telecast of live or recorded speeches by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
Life on the line in the ratings race
Date: November 6, 2022 – Source: Express Tribune
Each day, journalists and reporters face serious threats, just for doing their jobs. The death of reporter Sadaf Naeem while covering a political rally reminds us that it is high time media professionals are trained in safety, risk analysis and threat evaluation.
Safety of journalists in Pakistan
Date: November 6, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The death of two broadcast journalists casts a spotlight on the dangerous working conditions faced by news media professionals and workers in Pakistan. Adequately trained journalists who feels safe doing their job is perhaps one of the most effective ways of ensuring their safety.
Retired justice refuses to head commission to probe journalist’s murder
Date: November 7, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
The head of the inquiry commission formed to ascertain facts about the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya, retired Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha, refused to proceed with the investigation. His reasons for refusal included ‘dissatisfaction and rejection’ of the commission by Sharif’s mother.
Pakistan asks Kenya for key information to assist Arshad Sharif murder inquiry
Date: November 7, 2022 – Source: The News
Pakistan called on Kenyan authorities to share information about the telephone calls history of Waqar Ahmed, his wife Morin Waqaar and Khurram Ahmed to assist the murder inquiry of slain journalist Arshad Sharif.
Islamabad High Court takes up petition of slain journalist’s mother
Date: November 8, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought replies from authorities concerned on a petition filed by mother of journalist Arshad Sharif, seeking the post-mortem examination report of her slain son.
Interior minister claims journalist murdered in a ‘targeted attack’
Date: November 9, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Cable News Network (CNN)
Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah said that journalist Arshad Sharif was killed in a targeted attack, rejecting the claim of Kenyan police that his killing was a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
Minister condemns Imran Khan’s attempt to implicate journalists in assassination bid
Date: November 9, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murriyum Aurungzeb condemned the ‘attempt’ made by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to implicate a group of ‘pro-government’ journalists in the failed assassination attempt against him.
Slain journalist’s mobile phone, iPad ‘missing’ from crime scene in Kenya
Date: November 10, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Two key pieces of evidence, including a mobile phone device and a tablet, belonging to murdered journalist Arshad Sharif, reportedly went ‘missing’ from the crime scene near Nairobi in Kenya.
Journalist died 30 minutes after stolen vehicle found in Kenya
Date: November 10, 2022 – Source: The News
Journalist Arshad Sharif died 30 minutes after the vehicle that had been reported missing at a local police station in Nairobi by a man identified as Douglas Wain-aina Kamau was found.
New footage suggests Pakistani journalist shot from close range
Date: November 10, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Recently acquired footage in the murder case of journalist Arshad Sharif suggests that the journalist was shot at a close range in the head by Kenya Police firearms unit and six bullets were fired at his vehicle while on its way to Nairobi.
Report on gender disparity in Pakistani media launched
Date: November 10, 2022 – Source: The News
Pakistani women in media face all sorts of disparities and biases including inequality in promotion opportunities, salary structures, access to affordable day-care centers, maternity leaves and opposition for top executive positions in institutions.
Supreme Court rejects PEMRA plea on powers to suspend TV channel licenses
Date: November 11, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Express Tribune
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) rejected an appeal filed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) against a Sindh High Court’s (SHC) decision that had declared illegal the delegation of powers to the PEMRA chairman of suspending broadcast media licenses of TV channels.
Government accuses journalist’s hosts in Kenya of role in murder
Date: November 12, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah accused the two brothers who hosted Arshad Sharif in Kenya of being in cahoots with Kenyan police over the journalist’s murder.
Kenyan authorities dismiss torture claim in Pakistani journalist’s murder case
Date: November 12, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Kenyan police authorities rejected claims made by media in Pakistan that journalist Arshad Sharif was tortured for ‘three hours’ before being killed in a police shooting incident near Nairobi.
PFUJ forms five-member committee to probe journalist’s killing
Date: November 12, 2022 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) decided to become a party in the assassination case of journalist Arshad Sharif and formed a five-member committee to probe the matter.
Arshad Sharif murder: Uncover the facts
Date: November 13, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder is shaping up to be an Agatha Christie-style whodunit in which several actors have a motive and all of them have plausible deniability. There certainly appears to be more to it than meets the eye.
Hospital committee summons officials over leak of journalist’s autopsy pictures
Date: November 13, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Observer
Officials of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) were summoned by the inquiry committee formed to probe the leak of the autopsy pictures of slain journalist Arshad Sharif which were featured in a television news show on a private media outlet.
FIA hands over post-mortem report to slain journalist’s family, mentions torture
Date: November 13, 2022 – Source: The News
A post-mortem report, handed over to the family of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, mentioned that there were torture signs on the journalist’s body at the time of examination in Pakistan.
News director, Shahbaz Gill to be indicted in sedition case
Date: November 13, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News
A local court of Islamabad distributed the copies of challan among Shahbaz Gill and Ammad Yousaf – Director News of a private television channel – and decided to indict them in a case related to inciting mutiny among the armed forces.
Government revokes prize-winning Pakistani film’s censor certificate, bans release
Date: November 13, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The release of Joyland, an prize-winning film, was stopped for screening at Pakistani cinemas as the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cancelled its exhibition license granted months ago after receiving complaints that the film ‘contains highly objectionable, socially unacceptable material’.
Government’s ban on prize-winning film sparks outrage
Date: November 14, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Voice of America (VOA)
Independent critics, Pakistani show business celebrities and social media activists questioned the ban on Joyland, an Oscar-contender film, in a country where the Constitution recognizes and gives legal rights to transgender persons.
Kenyan expert refutes allegations of torture on Pakistani journalist before death
Date: November 14, 2022 – Source: Dawn
According to reports published in a Kenyan newspaper, a medical expert who had analyzed the post-mortem examination discredited the findings that Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif had been tortured before being killed in a police shooting.
Pakistan bans national release of Joyland, a story of sexual liberation
Date: November 15, 2022 – Source 1: Cable News Network (CNN), Source 2: Deutsche Welle (DW)
The move by Pakistan’s federal government to ban Joyland, a prize-winning film about the son of a ‘happy patriarchal joint family’ and a transgender starlet, was condemned by international film festival organizations and celebrities.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf seeks judicial probe into journalist’s killing
Date: November 15, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) filed applications in Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) registries across the country, seeking a judicial commission to probe the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya, assassination attempt on its chairman Imran Khan, and the secret video recording of Senator Azam Khan Swati and his wife.
PTI irked by media coverage of Imran Khan’s interviews
Date: November 15, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Former prime minister Imran Khan said a ‘propaganda cell’ in the Pakistani media was allegedly feeding journalists information against him ‘where they are told to pick and choose clips from his interviews and then turn them against him’.
Government body asks censors to review Joyland
Date: November 16, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The fate of Oscar-nominated, Joyland, hangs in the balance, as a special committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to evaluate complaints filed against the recently banned film recommended that the Central Board of Film Censors should conduct a full board review and take suitable action.
FIA summons Murad Saeed, Faisal Vawda in Arshad Sharif killing probe
Date: November 16, 2022 – Source: The News
The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) fact-finding committee summoned former ministers Murad Saeed and Faisal Vawda following their claims about being familiar with threats to slain journalist Arshad Sharif following his murder in Kenya.
Joint investigation team to grill media owner in journalist murder case
Date: November 16, 2022 – Source: The News
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya decided to include ARY Group owner Salman Iqbal in the investigation.
Sindh government forms commission to protect journalists, media practioners
Date: November 17, 2022 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
The Sindh government announced formation of a 14-member commission for protection of journalists and media practioners in the province. The commission would be headed by retired Justice Rasheed Razvi as its chairperson with four non-ex-officio members.
Joyland cleared for screening across Pakistan after cuts
Date: November 17, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The federal government cleared a controversial but critically acclaimed film Joyland – Pakistan’s official entry for Oscars 2023 – after omitting some ‘objectionable and immoral’ scenes from it deemed ‘unsuitable’ for citizens.
Punjab government bans screening of prize-winning film
Date: November 18, 2022 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: The News
The government of Punjab banned the screening of prize-winning film ‘Joyland’, less than 24 hours after the federal government decided to allow its screening across the country with cuts.
Kenyan rights activist claims Pakistani journalist’s murder was planned
Date: November 18, 2022 – Source: The News
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) said that Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder near Nairobi was ‘clearly planned’ and their investigation into the incident points to the hallmarks of ‘an inside job’.
Lawyers move Peshawar High Court for ban on ‘un-Islamic’ movie Joyland
Date: November 22, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the federal government, regulators, filmmaker and the country’s top religious body to respond to a petition seeking ban on the movie Joyland and removal of its trailers from social media.
PFUJ seeks judicial commission to probe journalist’s murder
Date: November 23, 2022 – Source: The News
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) requested Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to constitute a commission headed by a serving judge of the apex court to probe into the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
RSF slams ‘forced inaccessibility’ of FactFocus website in Pakistan
Date: November 25, 2022 – Source: Dawn
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged Pakistani authorities to ensure respect for citizens’ right to journalism. This call came after FactFocus, an investigative website, was rendered totally or partially inaccessible after it posted a story about the wealth accumulation of the army chief and his family.
Date: November 27, 2022 – Source: Dawn
It is true Dawn was Muslim League (ML) paper in the first decade of Pakistan’s freedom. Today, this paper observes consistency in policy despite pressures and threats, it upholds fundamental rights, stands for free speech, defends the right of minorities, women and underprivileged sections.
JIT to record statement of man alleging Nawaz Sharif’s involvement in journalist’s killing
Date: November 30, 2022 – Source: Dawn
The joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to probe into journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing in Kenya is scheduled to record the statement of the man who accused former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of being part of the plot to murder the journalist.
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.