Two Pakistani journalists missing after PoK unrest coverage, CPJ demands release
Synopsis
Two independent Pakistani journalists who reported on the deadly unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — where over 50 people have died — vanished on 1 August after men in police uniforms seized them from their Islamabad office. Islamabad police have not acknowledged the detention. The CPJ calls it part of a deliberate effort to silence PoK coverage, with a third journalist already on hunger strike in custody.
Key Takeaways
Independent journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif were reportedly seized from their Islamabad office on 1 August by men in police uniforms.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has demanded their immediate and unconditional release as of 5 August .
Islamabad police have not acknowledged the detention; the journalists' whereabouts remain unknown.
Unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has claimed more than 50 lives and left hundreds injured, with an internet blackout imposed by authorities.
Tahir was previously detained on 23 June 2026 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and released on bail on 8 July .
A third journalist, Syed Farhad Ali Shah , remains in detention and reportedly began a hunger strike on 28 July in Bagh district .
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Wednesday, 5 August called on Pakistani authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of and unconditionally release independent journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif, who were reportedly seized from their Islamabad office by men in police uniforms on 1 August, following their coverage of the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The disappearance comes as Pakistani authorities have imposed an internet blackout and sweeping press freedom restrictions across the region.
What Happened to the Two Journalists
According to the CPJ, Tahir and Saif — both independent journalists who publish through Tahir's social media channels — were taken to an undisclosed location by individuals wearing police uniforms. The account was corroborated by Tahir's colleague Harmeet Singh and a local journalist who spoke anonymously, citing fear of reprisal. Islamabad police have not acknowledged the detention, and the journalists' whereabouts remain unknown.
CPJ Afghanistan-Pakistan Representative Waliullah Rahmani said the disappearance 'appears to be part of an escalating effort to silence independent reporting' on PoK. 'Pakistani authorities must immediately disclose the journalists' whereabouts, ensure their due-process rights, and release them unconditionally,' Rahmani added.
Background: Prior Detention and Legal Pressure
This is not Tahir's first encounter with Pakistani authorities. On 23 June 2026, officers from Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency detained him at the Islamabad District Courts after his pre-arrest bail application was dismissed in a case related to his reporting on former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, registered under the country's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. He was released on bail on 8 July — less than a month before his latest disappearance.
The Wider Crackdown in PoK
The unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has claimed more than 50 lives and left hundreds injured over recent days, drawing international condemnation over alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces and the deteriorating state of media freedom in the region. The CPJ noted that independent Kashmiri journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah remains in detention over his coverage of the protests. He reportedly began a hunger strike on 28 July in Bagh district, and there has been no update on his condition since. The CPJ has demanded that authorities ensure he receives urgent medical care and is immediately released.
International Pressure Mounts
On Monday, the CPJ separately urged Pakistani authorities to end the crackdown on journalists, restore access to information, and allow independent reporting in PoK. The back-to-back interventions signal growing alarm within the global press freedom community over what critics describe as a systematic effort to suppress coverage of the PoK unrest. Notably, the internet blackout imposed by Pakistani authorities has made independent verification of conditions on the ground extremely difficult. How Pakistan responds to the CPJ's demands will be closely watched by international human rights bodies in the days ahead.
Point of View
Legal pressure through cybercrime laws to pre-empt reporting, and now what appears to be extrajudicial detention to finish the job. Pakistan's silence — Islamabad police have not even acknowledged holding the men — is itself a statement. With a third journalist on hunger strike and the PoK death toll above 50, the international community's window to act before the story is fully suppressed is narrowing fast.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif?
Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif are independent Pakistani journalists who publish through Tahir's social media channels. They were reportedly seized from their Islamabad office on 1 August 2026 by men in police uniforms after covering unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Why were the journalists reportedly taken?
According to the CPJ, their disappearance appears linked to their reporting on the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where Pakistani authorities have imposed an internet blackout and severe restrictions on press freedom. No official reason for the detention has been provided.
What is the CPJ demanding from Pakistan?
The Committee to Protect Journalists has demanded that Pakistani authorities immediately disclose the journalists' whereabouts, ensure their due-process rights are upheld, and release them unconditionally. The CPJ has also called for an end to the broader crackdown on journalists in PoK.
What is the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir?
Unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has claimed more than 50 lives and left hundreds injured in recent days. Pakistani authorities have imposed an internet blackout and severe restrictions on journalists, drawing international condemnation over alleged human rights abuses.
Was Razi Tahir detained before this incident?
Yes. On 23 June 2026, Tahir was detained by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency at the Islamabad District Courts in a case related to his reporting on former Prime Minister Imran Khan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. He was released on bail on 8 July 2026, weeks before his latest disappearance.
