The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has raised grave alarm over the worsening condition of media professionals in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), citing sustained internet blackouts, telecommunications shutdowns, and the detention and disappearance of journalists amid escalating unrest in the territory. The press freedom body has called on Pakistani authorities to immediately end the crackdown, restore access to information, and permit independent reporting from PoK.

Journalists Detained and Missing

The CPJ identified independent Kashmiri journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah as remaining in detention over his coverage of ongoing protests. According to the organisation, there has been no update on his condition since he began a hunger strike on 28 July in Bagh district. The CPJ stated: 'Authorities must ensure he has access to urgent medical care and immediately release him.'

Two other journalists — Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif — remain missing after reportedly being taken by men in police uniform on 1 August. The CPJ urged Pakistani authorities to acknowledge their detention if they are in state custody, ensure due process, and release them without delay.

Internet Blackout and Media Access Restrictions

The CPJ cited reports from multiple social media users indicating that access to at least one international broadcaster's website was restricted in Pakistan after the outlet reported from PoK on 1 August. Several users in Pakistan reported difficulties accessing the Al Jazeera website, raising concerns over press freedom and the public's right to independent information.

According to media reports cited by the CPJ, a 'partial internet blackout and severe telecommunications restrictions' have been in place across PoK since 5 June — a span of nearly two months. This is consistent with a pattern of information suppression that observers have noted during periods of political unrest in the region.

Unrest and Reported Casualties

Unrest in PoK has intensified sharply over the past several days, with reports claiming that more than 50 people have been killed and hundreds injured during what is being described as a brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces. The CPJ and other observers have noted that the actual toll may be considerably higher, given the communications blackout limiting independent verification.

This comes amid a broader climate of political instability in PoK, where protests have been building over grievances that predate the current crackdown. The combination of restricted international media access, journalist detentions, and telecommunications shutdowns has severely curtailed the flow of verified information from the territory.

Global Press Freedom Response

The CPJ's statement, issued from New York, reflects growing international concern over Pakistan's handling of media access during the PoK unrest. Press freedom advocates argue that restricting journalist access and blocking international broadcaster websites during a period of civil unrest undermines democratic accountability and prevents independent scrutiny of state actions.

With communications channels severely restricted and journalists either detained or missing, the situation in PoK remains difficult to independently verify — a fact that itself underscores the scale of the press freedom crisis, according to the CPJ. How Pakistani authorities respond to international pressure in the coming days will be closely watched by global media freedom organisations.