Pakistan: IFJ report reveals systemic crackdown and existential crisis for media

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) releases its 2025-26 Pakistan Press Freedom Report, documenting a year of steady deterioration for the country's media environment and increasing risks to independent journalism. The report, released on May 4, paints a grim picture of an industry facing a crisis driven by draconian legislation, digital authoritarianism, and deepening economic challenges.

The IFJ's Pakistan Press Freedom Report 2025-26 details how the 2025 amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) have transformed the legislation into a primary mechanism for state surveillance and control. Under the guise of curbing 'fake news' and 'digital terrorism', authorities have increasingly targeted media workers over online commentary, culminating in unprecedented life sentences handed down to journalists in absentia by anti-terrorism courts. The establishment of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has intensified this pressure through escalated raids, summons, and the coordinated blocking of journalists' digital platforms.

The period from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, was marred by persistent threats, harassment, intimidation, and violence against the media, with the IFJ recording the targeted killings of at least three journalists, including A. D. Shar in Sindh, Abdul Latif Baloch in Balochistan, and Imtiaz Mir in Karachi. Other prominent attacks included a raid on the National Press Club in Islamabad in October 2025, with federal police damaging the outlet's premises, vandalising equipment, and attacking journalists; the assaults of three journalists at a press conference by supporters of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party; and unidentified assailants opening fire on the residence of ARY News correspondent Ihsan Khattak in March 2026.

Government advertising continued to be weaponised to ensure editorial compliance, with the media community widely condemning the near-total suspension of ads to the Dawn media group as an attempt to stifle critical reporting. Wage arrears, increasing precarious work across the industry, and weakened labour protections further eroded media independence, compounded by significant job losses at media outlets including NewsOne TV, DawnNews.tv, and Samaa TV.

Pakistani women journalists continued to face harassment, arrest, online abuse, and censorship, with documented incidents including the freezing of bank accounts and sophisticated deepfake attacks. Despite these challenges, Pakistan's journalist unions and partners, including the IFJ and the Women's Media Forum Pakistan (WMFP), worked to advance campaigns for gender equality and development for women in leadership. In a major milestone for gender equity in media governance, Ambreen Jan was appointed the first woman to lead the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in February 2026.

Under the fifth year of its 'Promoting Labour Rights, Gender Equality and Freedom of Association in Pakistan's Media' program, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the IFJ and its national partners worked to strengthen organisational capacity, advocacy, and leadership. Among key achievements under the project, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) developed a comprehensive strategic plan to guide its future direction and empower its regional unions, the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) enhanced its advocacy for journalists' labour rights and working conditions, the Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMAP) worked to promote and mentor women's leadership in digital media, and the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) conducted a member-based survey to improve its communications, engagement, and visibility with members and the wider pubic.

The IFJ said:"The space for independent journalism in Pakistan is being systematically dismantled, with the strategic weaponisation of the PECA law and the rise of judicial harassment representing a transparent attempt to restrict digital spaces and silence dissent. The Pakistani government must act to repeal the draconian cybercrime amendments, ensure accountability for violence against journalists, and end the financial control of independent media outlets. The IFJ stands in solidarity with Pakistan's media community in the fight for decent work, fair wages, job security, and equality across the industry."

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE