The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRC-Pakistan) on 2 November 2026 expressed serious concern over the killings, violence, threats, and legal pressures faced by journalists across Pakistan, calling on authorities to guarantee press freedom and end impunity for crimes against media professionals. The statement was issued on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, observed annually on 2 November under a United Nations General Assembly mandate first designated in 2013.

Scale of the Crisis

Citing a recent report by the Pakistan Press Foundation, HRC-Pakistan said at least 31 criminal cases were registered against journalists between January and October 2026, with 14 of those facing charges under provisions of Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). During the same period, nine arrests of journalists and media workers were documented under various laws, alongside 62 incidents of physical violence or mistreatment and 24 cases of threats or harassment.

Separately, the Islamabad-based media watchdog Freedom Network documented the murder of two journalists between October 2025 and August 2026. One killing was confirmed to be directly linked to the victim's journalistic work; the motive behind the second remains undetermined, according to reports.

What HRC-Pakistan Said

Jamshed Hussain, Chairperson of HRC-Pakistan, stated: 'The protection of journalists is intrinsically linked to the public's right to information, freedom of expression, and the accountability of state institutions. When a journalist is targeted for bringing facts to light, and the perpetrators escape punishment, it fosters an atmosphere of fear and silence across society.'

Hussain further warned: 'Criminalising reporting in the public interest, investigative journalism, dissent, and criticism of government performance is unacceptable. The law must not be used to silence journalists, access their sources, or entangle them in protracted legal proceedings.'

Key Demands from the Rights Body

HRC-Pakistan called on Pakistani authorities to conduct independent, effective, and transparent investigations into all killings and attacks on journalists, with affected families kept regularly informed of investigative and judicial progress. It also urged the government to bring perpetrators of killings, attacks, abductions, and threats to justice.

The rights body additionally called for a review and amendment of what it described as the 'vague and disproportionately restrictive provisions' of PECA that limit freedom of expression, to be undertaken in consultation with journalistic organisations, human rights bodies, and legal experts.

Broader Context and Pattern

Pakistan has consistently ranked among the most dangerous countries for journalists in global press freedom indices. The use of PECA — originally enacted to combat cybercrime — to prosecute reporters and commentators has drawn repeated criticism from international media rights groups. Notably, this is the second consecutive year in which HRC-Pakistan has issued a public alarm on journalist safety around the 2 November observance, reflecting what critics argue is a structural, not episodic, threat to press freedom in the country.

'A journalist's question is not the enemy of the state. Answers to questions must be provided through reason, information, and accountability. Claims of press freedom will remain hollow without an environment free of fear for journalists and justice for affected families,' Hussain added.

What Comes Next

HRC-Pakistan's statement sets a clear public benchmark against which the government's response — or absence of it — will be measured in coming weeks. With international scrutiny heightened on 2 November each year, pressure on Islamabad from global human rights bodies is likely to intensify, particularly over the PECA provisions that rights advocates say are being weaponised against the press.