Press Freedom Under Threat in Pakistan: Report

A recent study by the Freedom Network casts a concerning light on the state of press freedom in Pakistan, revealing a significant threat to the media environment due to increased limitations, compromised safety, and diminishing job security.

The annual “Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom Report 2025,” entitled “Free speech and public interest journalism under siege,” emphasizes that recent modifications to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) earlier this year have intensified the crisis.

The report indicates that these revisions have simplified the process for authorities to detain, penalize, and imprison journalists and dissenting opinions, both in digital spaces and traditional media.

According to Iqbal Khattak, executive director of the Freedom Network, “The existential threat is serious, a situation rarely observed in Pakistani media history.” He made these remarks during the report’s launch, preceding World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

Regrettably, the report detailed the deaths of five journalists during the covered period.

Three journalists were killed in Sindh and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while at least 82 journalists and media professionals encountered various forms of intimidation during the same timeframe.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emerged as the riskiest province for journalists, with 22 documented cases, while Islamabad reported the second-highest number at 20, followed by Punjab with 18 cases.

Balochistan recorded four cases, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported one.

The report highlighted that a minimum of 14 journalists are facing legal challenges, predominantly under Peca, while eight journalists were arrested or detained concerning legal cases.