Islamabad, Feb 26 (NationPress) A coalition of international organizations advocating for press freedom and human rights has reached out to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing profound concern regarding the ongoing decline of media freedom in Pakistan.

A collective letter from the Committee to Protect Journalists and 17 other organizations emphasized that recent legal and institutional changes, combined with a lack of accountability for attacks on journalists, have fostered a deteriorating environment for media professionals in the country.

The coalition urged the Pakistani government to take urgent measures to honor its commitments under the Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which safeguard freedom of expression and press, alongside the protection of journalists from violence, intimidation, and unlawful interference.

The signatories pointed out that the situation for press freedom in Pakistan, already precarious, has further deteriorated since the implementation of the 27th constitutional amendment in November 2025.

“This amendment resulted in the formation of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), a change that has coincided with a decline in judicial oversight and accountability in cases related to media attacks. Instead of enhancing protections for journalists, these alterations have led to a more restrictive and unpredictable environment for independent journalism. The lack of judicial action in prominent murder cases has perpetuated a culture of impunity that continues to threaten the press,” the letter stated.

“Following the amendment, journalists throughout Pakistan have encountered an increase in legal harassment, intimidation, surveillance, regulatory scrutiny, and threats—factors that have had a chilling impact on press freedom. Concurrently, the failure of authorities to ensure accountability for crimes against journalists has reinforced a pattern of impunity that places media workers in significant danger,” it further elaborated.

The organizations called for an end to the prosecution and conviction of Pakistani journalists residing abroad.

“Targeting journalists internationally marks a concerning expansion of restrictions on press freedom beyond national borders and constitutes transnational repression,” it cautioned.

Condemning a recent increase in the detention and deportation of Afghan journalists in Pakistan, the signatories urged the Pakistani authorities to immediately cease deportations of journalists and media personnel at risk, adhering to the principle of non-refoulement for those facing credible threats due to their journalistic activities.

The group further appealed for the immediate repeal or significant amendment of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA), including its 2025 amendments, to protect press freedom and eliminate its misuse against journalists.

“The vague provisions of PECA facilitate arbitrary FIRs, arrests, and prosecutions of journalists, independent media, and digital platforms for legitimate coverage of state institutions, thereby creating a chilling effect on free expression. These abuses violate international standards for freedom of expression and must be reformed to protect journalists’ constitutional rights and the public’s right to information,” the letter emphasized.