A press freedom group has called on Pakistani authorities to release journalist Sohrab Barkat, who was arrested in Islamabad for his coverage of protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated that Barkat was detained after his report on the political situation in PoK, accused of supporting the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Barkat appeared in court, where he was remanded in custody for three days.
“The detention of journalist Sohrab Barkat is an attempt to criminalize independent reporting on Kashmir,” said Waliullah Rahmani, CPJ Afghanistan-Pakistan Representative. Rahmani urged Pakistani authorities to release Barkat, return his equipment, and cease using false information allegations to intimidate journalists. The CPJ highlighted that PoK authorities banned JAAC under anti-terrorism laws, making the accusations against Barkat even more concerning.
The CPJ emphasized the growing suppression of media freedom in Pakistan, noting Barkat’s previous detention without charge from November 2025 to March this year. Reports indicate casualties and injuries during clashes between law enforcement and protesters in Rawalakot city of PoK. These clashes followed the proscription of JAAC by Pakistani authorities, leading to violent confrontations.
International human rights organizations have criticized Pakistan for its crackdown on peaceful protests in PoK, including internet shutdowns, mass arrests, and the use of force. They describe these actions as a worrying decline in human rights in the region.
