Islamabad [Pakistan], May 5 (ANI): Observances of World Press Freedom Day in Pakistan were dominated by warnings from media organisations and civil society about a deteriorating environment for independent journalism, with growing censorship, intimidation and legal pressure on reporters.
A coalition of leading media bodies said the past year has been especially challenging, citing increased restrictions, harassment and interference in newsroom independence, according to Dawn. In a joint statement, the groups said journalists face intimidation, arrests and violence, while media outlets encounter censorship and editorial meddling.
They pointed to both overt and subtle levers of control, including the selective use of government advertising to influence editorial lines and the marginalisation of critical voices, which they said undermine the public’s right to impartial information.
Separately, civil society organisations sent an open letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, warning that fear, legal coercion and financial instability are shaping the country’s media landscape and turning World Press Freedom Day into a reminder of the risks journalists confront.
The letter criticised frequent use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), alleging that the law is often invoked to silence dissent rather than to deliver justice. It cited cases involving journalists such as Asad Toor and Farhan Mallick, which advocacy groups say collapsed for lack of evidence and exemplify prosecutions that serve primarily to intimidate.
Advocacy organisations shared data pointing to a rise in legal actions against journalists over the past year, many tied to broadly worded provisions on misinformation. Civil society representatives also raised concerns about informal pressures, including alleged private directives that affect editorial decisions and on-air representation.
The groups emphasised that these legal and informal controls are compounded by worsening economic conditions in the media sector: layoffs, delayed salaries and reduced government advertising have left newsrooms more vulnerable to external influence, Dawn reported.
Media bodies and rights advocates called on authorities to halt retaliatory legal measures, ensure protection for journalists, and restore safeguards for editorial independence so that citizens can access credible, unbiased information.
Note: This article is based on a syndicated feed and has been repackaged from reporting cited by Dawn and ANI.
