Several international press freedom and human rights organizations have sent a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing serious worries about the declining media freedom in Pakistan. The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with 17 other groups, emphasized the deteriorating environment for journalists in Pakistan due to legal and institutional changes and the lack of accountability for attacks on the media. These organizations urged the Pakistani government to take immediate steps to uphold the country’s commitments to freedom of expression and press freedom under the Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The letter highlighted that the press freedom situation in Pakistan has worsened since the adoption of the 27th constitutional amendment in November 2025. The establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) following the amendment has coincided with reduced judicial oversight and accountability in cases involving attacks on the media. Instead of enhancing protections for journalists, these developments have led to a more restrictive and uncertain environment for independent journalism. The lack of judicial action in prominent murder cases has perpetuated a culture of impunity, posing serious risks to media professionals.
The period after the constitutional amendment has seen journalists in Pakistan facing increased legal harassment, intimidation, surveillance, regulatory scrutiny, and threats, all of which have had a chilling effect on press freedom. The failure of authorities to hold perpetrators accountable for crimes against journalists has further endangered media workers. The organizations have called for an end to the prosecution and conviction of Pakistani journalists residing abroad, denouncing this as a concerning extension of press freedom restrictions beyond national borders.
Expressing concern over the recent rise in detentions and deportations of Afghan journalists living in Pakistan, the signatories have demanded an immediate halt to such actions and the upholding of the principle of “non-refoulement” for journalists and media workers facing credible threats due to their work. They have also urged for the repeal or significant amendment of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA), including the 2025 amendments, to safeguard press freedom and prevent its misuse against journalists. The vague provisions of PECA have enabled arbitrary legal actions against journalists, independent media, and digital platforms, stifling free expression and violating international standards of freedom of expression.
