FN Threat Data Analysis – January 2025
Freedom Network (FN) documented two threat cases, including a privilege motion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, against two journalists during January 2025, categorized as follows:
Actual Legal Action (Civil or Criminal, specifying the relevant laws)
Offline Harassment
These incidents were reported through the Pakistan Press Club Safety Hubs Network, a program managed by FN since 2016. In collaboration with the six largest press clubs in Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Quetta, Islamabad, and Peshawar — the program monitors and documents violations against media practitioners while providing essential support to journalists at risk.
Actual Legal Action (Civil or Criminal, specifying the relevant laws)
Journalist: Hayat Khetran, Reporter for Hum News
Date & Location: January 24, 2024, Barkhan, Balochistan
Threat Actors: State Authority
Incident Summary: An FIR was lodged against journalist Hayat Khan by Levies Force in-charge Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Barkhan district of Balochistan. The FIR alleged that Khetran shared a false video on social media aimed at defaming the levies leading to charges under PECA Act sections 500, 186, PLL 10, 21, and 22. Khetran however, termed this FIR as an act of retaliation to register a false case against him due to personal grievances. 
Threat Developments:
On January 27, 2025 Khetran and the DC resolved their differences and as a result the FIR was dropped.
Harassment Offline Not Involving Legal Action
Journalists: Irfan Khan, Vice-President, Peshawar Press Club, and works for Azad Digital
Date & Location: January 27, 2025, Peshawar
Incident Summary: Irfan Khan a senior journalist and the vice-president of Peshawar Press Club became the target of a privilege motion moved by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Aftab Alam advocate in the Provincial Assembly for his reporting on alleged corruption in contracts awarded by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mineral Department. The minister dismissed the allegations of illegal mining leases and contracts in Kohat as false and fabricated.
Threat Actors: State Authorities
Post Incident Developments:
The Peshawar Press Club condemned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law minister for moving the privilege motion against the journalist. In a joint statement President Peshawar Press Club M Riaz and general secretary Tayyab Usman expressed their concerns and considered it as an attack on press freedom and termed it as the law minister’s move to violate democratic values of freedom of expression and press freedom and questioned whether it was an attempt to affect the best cordial relations between the government of Chief Minister and the media in the province.  They warned if the motion was not withdrawn, journalists will protest to resist such intimidation.
Threat Actors
Threat actors are entities responsible for originating threats. These include:
State Actors

Threats, Attacks, and Harassment
During January 2025, threats targeted one TV and one digital media journalist across various regions. This data illustrates the diverse challenges faced by media professionals and underscores the pressing need for safeguards to protect press freedom.