Pakistan press freedom under siege: Media bodies warn of PECA crackdowns in 2025-26
Synopsis
On World Press Freedom Day, Pakistan's own media bodies and civil society delivered a damning verdict on the state of journalism in the country — citing PECA-driven arrests, government ad-based editorial control, and a climate of fear that is pushing journalists toward self-censorship. The acquittal of arrested journalists, rather than reassuring, has only reinforced allegations that prosecutions are tools of intimidation.
Key Takeaways
Pakistan's Joint Action Committee of media organisations declared the past year "challenging for journalism" in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day (3 May) .
Civil society sent an open letter to PM Shehbaz Sharif warning of intimidation, legal pressure, and economic vulnerability in Pakistan's media landscape.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was identified as the primary tool used to silence dissent, with journalists Asad Toor and Farhan Mallick among those booked and later released for lack of evidence.
Freedom Network's report named PECA the most "consequential instrument" restricting free speech in Pakistan in 2025–26 .
Human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were among those convicted, cited as examples of custodial sentences being used to deter dissent.
Dozens of journalists face charges; defamation cases, regulatory suspensions, and internet shutdowns have further constrained independent journalism.
Media bodies and civil society organisations in Pakistan have raised serious concerns over escalating curbs on press freedom and mounting risks to journalists, issuing sharp warnings on World Press Freedom Day observed on 3 May each year. The alarm was sounded through a joint statement and an open letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as reported by the daily Dawn.
Joint Statement by Media Organisations
The Joint Action Committee — comprising the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AMEND), and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) — described the past year as
Point of View
Government ad-based editorial leverage, and internet shutdowns represents a multi-layered censorship architecture that is harder to dismantle than any single law. The pattern of arrests followed by acquittals is particularly telling: it suggests the goal is not conviction but compliance. International rankings have long flagged Pakistan as a high-risk environment for journalists, yet domestic accountability mechanisms remain weak. The Sharif government's silence in response to the joint statement and open letter will itself be a data point worth tracking.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Pakistan's media bodies raising concerns on World Press Freedom Day 2025?
Pakistan's leading media organisations and civil society groups issued a joint statement and open letter to PM Shehbaz Sharif on World Press Freedom Day (3 May), warning of escalating harassment, arrests, editorial interference, and PECA-driven legal pressure on journalists. They described the past year as among the most challenging for journalism in the country.
What is PECA and how is it being used against journalists in Pakistan?
PECA, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, is a Pakistani law originally framed to address cybercrime. According to media watchdogs and civil society, its amended provisions are increasingly being used in 2025 and 2026 to criminalise lawful expression, target dissent, and intimidate journalists, lawyers, and political commentators — often without securing convictions.
Who are Asad Toor and Farhan Mallick?
Asad Toor is an Islamabad-based journalist who reportedly faced multiple legal actions over social media posts. Farhan Mallick is the founder of a digital news platform who was arrested in 2025 on allegations of anti-state activity but was acquitted earlier this year. Both cases were cited in the open letter as examples of PECA being used for intimidation rather than genuine legal redress.
What did the Freedom Network report find about press freedom in Pakistan?
Freedom Network's report, titled 'Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression – Legal Controls and PECA Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan', found that Pakistan's media space shrank significantly over the past year due to legal, regulatory, and economic pressures. It identified PECA as the most consequential instrument restricting journalists and free speech, with Executive Director Iqbal Khattak warning of a "climate of fear" driving self-censorship.
Which human rights lawyers were highlighted in the Freedom Network report?
The report highlighted the convictions of human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha as examples of how custodial sentences are being used to deter dissent in Pakistan.
