International human rights organisation Front Line Defenders has called on Pakistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist and human rights defender Ahmad Farhad and drop all charges against him, asserting that he is being targeted for his independent reporting and rights work in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Ireland-based group issued the demand on 8 July, condemning what it described as a sustained pattern of repression against dissenting voices in the region.

The Arrest and Detention

According to Front Line Defenders, Pakistani police detained Farhad on 20 June in Bagh city, PoK, while he was returning home after covering an ongoing protest by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Rawalakot. He has since been held at the Bagh city police station without, the organisation alleges, any legal grounds or a formal arrest warrant.

A Pattern of Targeted Reprisals

The rights body emphasised that Farhad's detention is not an isolated case. It noted that he has previously faced violent reprisals for his journalism, including what it described as an abduction that was later formalised as an arrest in 2024, as well as criminalisation and stigmatisation by state authorities. Front Line Defenders stated: 'He has faced violent reprisals as a result of his work, including an abduction which later turned into an arrest in 2024, as well as criminalisation and stigmatisation by state authorities.'

Farhad had been using his media platform to cover the JAAC protest movement in PoK — a campaign that, according to the organisation, has 'faced a disproportionate use of force and repression' by Pakistani authorities. Thousands of protesters were reportedly arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, a provision that permits preventive detention with limited recourse to judicial review.

Broader Crackdown in PoK

Front Line Defenders stressed that the repression in PoK extends well beyond individual cases. The organisation cited internet blackouts and restrictions on movement in the region as tools used to prevent independent reporting and suppress information about the scale of rights violations. 'Pakistan has a record of systemic repression against any form of dissent, including those that peacefully advocate for justice and rights,' it said.

Journalists such as Farhad are described as especially vulnerable because they challenge state-sponsored narratives and report independently from the ground — a function the rights group argues is critical for accountability in the region.

Safety Concerns and What Comes Next

Front Line Defenders expressed grave concern over Farhad's safety while in custody, particularly given his earlier experience of enforced disappearance. The organisation has called for the withdrawal of all charges and for Pakistani authorities to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity.

The case is drawing renewed international attention to the conditions facing human rights defenders and journalists in PoK, a region where independent oversight remains severely restricted. Whether Islamabad responds to international pressure will be closely watched by press freedom advocates globally.