Athens, Feb 3 (NationPress) Journalists and media organizations in Pakistan have increasingly encountered severe pressures, including legal actions, threats, and restrictions on their reporting. Critics claim that the recurrent use of counterterrorism laws by Pakistani authorities in matters concerning speech and political discourse obscures the distinction between genuine national security and the suppression of dissent, as highlighted in a recent report.

The Greek City Times reported that the recent convictions of journalists, social media influencers, and former military personnel on allegations of “digital terrorism” occur against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny regarding press freedom and civic engagement in the country.

In early January 2026, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad issued multiple life sentences to seven journalists, social media commentators, and ex-military officials, accusing them of “digital terrorism” related to their roles in the unrest that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, the report detailed.

The convictions, which were handed down in absentia, sparked significant backlash from advocates for press freedom and human rights groups, amplifying concerns over due process, judicial independence, and the future of free expression in Pakistan.

According to the report, numerous international human rights organizations and press freedom advocates have expressed serious concerns, emphasizing that the legal proceedings raise critical questions regarding “due process, transparency, and fundamental rights” in Pakistan.

The report also noted that the International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) has submitted a formal statement to United Nations mechanisms, voicing “serious concern” over the court proceedings in Pakistan, indicating that the accused were not adequately informed of the charges and were denied access to evidence or meaningful opportunities for defense.

The IHRF pointed out that such actions could undermine constitutional guarantees and Pakistan’s international obligations, including those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Furthermore, these convictions occurred amidst broader constitutional changes in Pakistan that critics argue diminish judicial independence and shift power towards military authority.

Advocates for civil liberties, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have long cautioned that such cases in Pakistan may be aimed at penalizing critical journalism rather than addressing legitimate counterterrorism efforts.

CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator, Beh Lih Yi, previously urged Pakistani authorities to halt investigations and end what the organization terms as ‘relentless intimidation and censorship’ of the media.

Additionally, the report highlighted that beyond the life sentences, a broader crackdown following the May 2023 unrest has led to hundreds of criminal cases and arrests of political activists and dissenters under anti-terrorism laws or military-linked judicial processes.