Pakistan's media is currently grappling with an existential crisis, characterized by mounting threats and an increasingly restrictive environment. These developments, which endanger the safety, job security, and professional integrity of journalists, are highlighted in the Freedom Network’s 2025 report on Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom.

The report, titled “Free Speech and Public Interest Journalism Under Siege,” attributes this crisis to the amendments made to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in January 2025. These amendments now facilitate the arrest, fine, and imprisonment of journalists and dissidents, both online and offline, exacerbating the challenges faced by media practitioners.

“The existential threat faced by the media is unprecedented in Pakistan’s history. Such a crisis threatens the very foundation of democracy, and the state has become more brutal in its intolerance of critical questioning,” said Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network, during the report launch, which coincided with the global observance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

The report, authored by Adnan Rehmat, covers the period from May 2024 to April 2025, providing an overview of the state of freedom of expression and media freedoms in Pakistan. The amendments to PECA are seen as a primary trigger for the crisis, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emerging as the most perilous province for journalists, followed by Islamabad and Punjab. The report warns that the narrowing media space in the country limits citizens' access to essential information.

Five journalists were killed during the reporting period, with three fatalities in Sindh and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At least 82 journalists and media professionals faced various forms of threats, underscoring the deteriorating safety of the press. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was identified as the most dangerous province, with 22 recorded cases against journalists, while Islamabad had 20, and Punjab had 18. Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir recorded four and one cases, respectively. Additionally, 14 journalists faced legal charges, primarily under the PECA law, and eight were arrested in relation to these cases.

The report highlights the growing challenges, including censorship, legal constraints, violence against journalists, the impact of disinformation, and the safety of women in the media. Despite improvements in the representation of women in the media, significant disparities remain, particularly in quantitative terms. Women continue to play an active role across various media platforms, including print, television, radio, and digital media.

The report calls for a national movement to safeguard the constitutional right to freedom of expression and protect citizens' right to dissent against policies and actions that infringe on their fundamental rights. It also advocates for public and civil society engagement to strengthen this movement and urges the creation of a national consensus on digital rights, ensuring equal constitutional protections both online and offline.

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