5 journalists were killed between May 2024 and April 2025, at least 82 journalists and other media professionals faced various types of threats, report
Staff Reporter Daily Dawn + Dawn TV Report
London: Freedom Network’s annual Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom Report for 2025 says that Pakistan’s media stands at a crossroads between the threat to its survival and an environment of increasing restrictions, deteriorating security and job security, and significant challenges facing professional integrity of the media and its professionals.
The report, titled ‘Freedom of Expression and Public Interest Journalism Under Siege’, said that the media’s survival crisis was triggered by amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PEC) in January 2025, which now make it easier for authorities to arrest, fine and imprison journalists and opponents.
He said that the survival threat is serious because such a situation is rarely seen in the history of Pakistani media. Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network, said that this situation is endangering the foundation of democracy and the state is more ruthless than ever to tolerate tough questions.
The report, written by Adnan Rehmat, provides an overview of freedom of expression and media freedom in Pakistan from May 2024 to April 2025.
He said that these challenges reflect the wider shrinking space for media freedom in the country, with co-author Iqbal Khattak saying that such a shrinking space for the media means that citizens will have little access to the information they need to know.
During the period under review, five journalists were killed, three in Sindh and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while at least 82 journalists and other media professionals faced various forms of threats.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emerged as the most dangerous province for journalists with 22 cases registered, compared to 20 cases registered against journalists in Islamabad, 18 in Punjab, four in Balochistan and one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The report said that at least 14 journalists faced legal cases, most of which were under the PECA law, while in eight cases journalists were arrested or detained.
The report identifies growing censorship, legal restrictions, violence against journalists, the impact of misinformation on the integrity of the media and its supporters, the challenges faced by women media practitioners, the impact of political divisions on media freedom, and the safety of journalists as key areas that are identified as key reasons for the current situation facing freedom of expression and media freedom.
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