Islamabad, Nov 2 (NationPress) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has voiced serious concerns regarding the targeted assassinations of journalists, the exploitation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) to file cases against media professionals, as well as issues like undeclared censorship, harassment from both state and non-state entities, involuntary layoffs, and unpaid salaries in Pakistan, according to local media reports on Sunday.

This concern was articulated during discussions between a delegation from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and IFJ President Dominique Pradalie and Secretary General Anthony Bellanger at the Syndicat National des Journalistes (SNJ) headquarters in Paris. The meeting was convened to tackle the escalating crisis confronting journalists in Pakistan.

The IFJ representatives urged Pakistan’s President, Prime Minister, and Chief Justice to promptly address the challenges journalists are facing, warning that continued inaction by authorities could compel a request for intervention from the United Nations, as reported by daily Dawn.

During the meeting, the PFUJ delegation, which included Secretary General Shakeel Ahmed, Tariq Usmani, President of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists, and Waseem Shahzad Qadri, head of the Foreign Committee, briefed the IFJ leaders on the adversities journalists in Pakistan are enduring.

In a collaborative statement, Pradalie and Bellanger condemned the illegal actions targeting journalists and called for the immediate cessation of Peca-based cases, urging the implementation of robust legislation to safeguard journalists’ rights while emphasizing the necessity of legal action against perpetrators of targeted killings. They also criticized the undeclared censorship enforced by government bodies, labeling it as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Expressing alarm over the forced terminations of media personnel, the IFJ leaders appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to enact urgent and effective legislation to prevent what they termed the “economic massacre” of journalists in Pakistan. The IFJ pledged full support for PFUJ and indicated that this issue will be part of the agenda at the forthcoming IFJ Congress.

Meanwhile, the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, along with the province of Punjab, has been identified as “the most hazardous locations” for journalists, with reported violations against the media surging by approximately 60 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.

These regions have been labeled as “the most perilous areas” in the Annual Impunity Report 2025 published by the Freedom Network, with assistance from International Media Support (IMS). The report highlights the worsening circumstances concerning freedom of expression and the safety of journalists under the Pakistani regime. It indicates a significant increase in assaults and violations against journalists and other media professionals.

“At least 142 instances of violations were recorded, indicating a nearly 60 percent rise from the prior year. The hostile atmosphere for media, which intensified following the February 2024 general elections, has rendered nearly every region in Pakistan unsafe for journalism, with incidents reported across all provinces and territories,” as stated by Dawn.

At least 36 formal legal cases against 30 journalists and media professionals have been filed under the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) during the first year of the current federal administration, according to the report. Earlier this year, authorities amended the Act, making its provisions more stringent for journalists, drawing criticism from media professionals and human rights advocates.