Islamabad — A new Freedom Network report released ahead of World Press Freedom Day (May 3) warns that the expanded use of cybercrime laws is eroding media independence in Pakistan. The study, titled “Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression — Legal Controls and PECA Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan,” concludes that recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) have intensified pressure on journalists and driven widespread self‑censorship.
The report describes a pattern of legal intimidation, defamation suits, regulatory actions and internet shutdowns that constrain independent reporting. Measures presented as efforts to counter misinformation and hate speech, it says, have often been paired with increased surveillance and selective enforcement, raising the risk of misuse. Vague labels such as “fake” or “fabricated” news, the authors warn, blur the line between critical reporting and punishable dissent.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, Dawn documented at least 129 confirmed violations against media professionals: two killings, multiple death threats, 58 legal cases—most filed under PECA—alongside assaults, harassment and abductions. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are singled out as particularly hazardous for journalists, while fatal incidents in Sindh and Balochistan highlight national risks.
The report also notes convictions of rights activists including Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, suggesting imprisonment is increasingly used to deter dissent. This item is based on a syndicated news feed and published as received.
