KARACHI: At least 129 violations against journalists -- including two murders and dozens of legal cases, many linked to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) -- were recorded in Pakistan over the past year, according to a report by media watchdog Freedom Network.
Titled ‘Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression – Legal Controls and PECA Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan’, the report identifies amendments to Peca as the most consequential tool restricting journalists and free expression. Freedom Network released the report ahead of World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3.
Freedom Network’s Executive Director Iqbal Khattak is quoted as saying that: “The weaponization of Peca has created a climate of fear where journalists are compelled to self-censor to avoid legal repercussions”.
The report cites convictions of human rights lawyers as examples of how custodial sentences are used to deter dissent. It adds that dozens of journalists have faced charges under expanded provisions of Peca, alongside defamation suits, regulatory suspensions and internet shutdowns.
It also highlights broader structural issues, noting that while right-to-information laws exist, their implementation remains inconsistent, particularly at the federal level.
State-led efforts to counter disinformation and hate speech, the report says, have been accompanied by increased surveillance and selective enforcement. Vague definitions have further blurred the distinction between misinformation and legitimate dissent, says the report.
In terms of safety, the report documents at least 129 verified incidents of violations between April 2025 and March 2026. Legal threats and physical violence accounted for nearly two-thirds of these cases.
These included two murders, five threats of murder, 58 legal cases -- mostly invoking Peca -- 16 cases of assault, 11 threats and two cases of kidnapping and enforced disappearance.
The report identifies Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the most dangerous regions for journalists, while murders in Sindh and Balochistan highlight persistent risks nationwide. State authorities were suspected in over 60 per cent of violations, primarily through legal and custodial actions, while non-state actors also contributed to threats and violence.
The report also points to gender-specific risks, citing the detention of three female journalists in Islamabad while covering the Aurat March 2026. It notes that women journalists face harassment, online abuse, workplace discrimination and emerging threats such as deepfake misuse.
Economic pressures also continue to affect the media sector, with journalists facing delayed salaries, job insecurity and reliance on government advertising.
Despite these challenges, the report notes some progress, including leadership initiatives and the appointment of Ambreen Jan as the first female head of Pemra.
It also examines the evolving role of technology, noting limited adoption of AI due to infrastructural and linguistic barriers.
The report calls for urgent reforms, including revisiting restrictive provisions of Peca, strengthening the implementation of journalist safety laws, improving transparency through effective enforcement of right-to-information frameworks and promoting the ethical use of emerging technologies.
