Pakistan Journalists Unite Against Censorship as Press Freedom Worsens

Pakistan Journalists Unite Against Censorship as Press Freedom Worsens

Senior journalists, media unions, political figures and civil society representatives in Pakistan have formed a joint alliance to defend press freedom, warning that censorship, legal intimidation and financial pressure on the media are getting worse. The decision came at a roundtable in Islamabad moderated by journalist Munizae Jahangir and chaired by veteran journalist Nasir Zaidi, where participants agreed to coordinate their efforts and document violations systematically.

Speakers at the meeting raised a string of concerns. Prominent anchor Hamid Mir pointed to cases registered against journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and proposed a white paper detailing restrictions on free speech. Veteran journalist Mujeebur Rehman Shami argued the deeper problem is the failure to implement existing laws, while analyst Najam Sethi warned that self-censorship and commercial pressures have weakened independent journalism. Asma Shirazi highlighted online harassment targeting women journalists.

Journalists from Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and other regions described mounting security threats and economic hardship. A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa journalists' leader said more than 30 journalists have been killed in the province since 2001 and 22 faced threats in 2025 alone. The alliance plans to examine the role of political parties in passing restrictive laws and to push for stronger protections for reporters across the country.

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