Freedom Network

19/05/2026

Kamal Uddin Tipu(right), chairperson of Federal Commission for Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals, is receiving copy of State of Media Freedom Pakistan 2026 report from Executive Director Iqbal Khattak on Monday. Both have also discussed operational preparedness of the commission to combat impunity for crimes against journalists in Pakistan and agreed to work together for the common agenda.
Photo by Freedom Network

18/05/2026

میڈیا اداروں کو مضبوط، خودمختار اور مالی طور پر مستحکم بنانے کے لیے یقین گرانٹ کے تحت درخواستیں اب قبول کی جا رہی ہیں۔ یہ موقع اُن ڈیجیٹل نیوز میڈیا اداروں کے لیے ہے جو اپنے کاروباری ماڈلز اور آمدنی کے ذرائع کو مزید بہتر بنانا چاہتے ہیں۔
اپنی درخواست جمع کروائیں اور میڈیا کے پائیدار مستقبل کا حصہ بنیں۔
درخواست جمع کروانے کے لیے:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIeDm309K9XZXdzxSY3ST07qIk2-1gyrwP5TUvXldd01TwaA/viewform?usp=header

18/05/2026

Freedom Network condemns the repeated breaches of the Right to Information (RTI) law in Punjab, where access to information, a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19-A of the Constitution, continues to face restrictions.
Denial of access to public information weakens transparency, limits accountability, and restricts journalists’ ability to report in the public interest. RTI is a basic legal right and an essential tool for journalists and citizens to hold public institutions accountable.
Freedom Network urges authorities to ensure full implementation of RTI laws and uphold citizens’ constitutional right to information.

14/05/2026

“The state is so strong, the most probably we will die” – Dawn Editor Zafar Abbas speaks of challenges independent media is facing in Pakistan. He was at panel discussion during an event at the Centre for Excellence in Journalism in Karachi on 02 May 2026 to mark the World Press Freedom Day. Freedom Network’s annual flagship report on State of Freedom of Expression in Pakistan 2026 was also launched at the event.
For full report click the link below:

https://fnpk.org/weaponized-peca-undermining-free-speech-journalism-in-pakistan-freedom-network-report/

13/05/2026

When laws meant to regulate speech, begin to silence journalists, democracy itself comes under pressure. Freedom Network’s latest report documents the growing challenges facing media and free expression in Pakistan, from PECA cases and censorship to harassment, intimidation, and digital threats.
Read the full report:
https://www.fnpk.org/weaponized-peca-undermining-free-speech-journalism-in-pakistan-freedom-network-report/

13/05/2026

فریڈم نیٹ ورک کی اپریل کی رپورٹ کے مطابق ملک بھر میں صحافیوں کے خلاف آٹھ واقعات رپورٹ ہوئے، جن میں قتل کی کوشش، گرفتاری، قانونی کارروائی کی دھمکیاں، اغوا اور جسمانی تشدد شامل ہیں۔ رپورٹ کے مطابق صوبہ پنجاب صحافیوں کے خلاف خطرات کے حوالے سے سب سے زیادہ متاثرہ صوبہ رہا جہاں آٹھ میں سے چھ کیسز رپورٹ ہوئے، جبکہ ان تمام واقعات میں صحافیوں کو مختلف نوعیت کے خطرات کا سامنا کرنا پڑا۔
صحافیوں کو درپیش خطرات کی مکمل تفصیل جاننے کے لیے نیچے دیے گئے لنک پر کلک کریں:
https://fnpk.org/punjab-tops-list-of-threat-cases-against-journalists-during-april-2026/

FN Threat Data Analysis- April 2026 Eight cases of different threat categories were recorded against journalists across Pakistan during April 2026, including attempt to murder, threat of legal action, assault resulting in injury, and assault without injury and other. Punjab province recorded the hig...

12/05/2026

ڈیرہ غازی خان میں صحافیوں کے خلاف مقدمات اور انسدادِ دہشتگردی دفعات کا استعمال تشویش ناک ہے۔
صحافی شیرافگن بزدار، مصطفیٰ لاشاری اور حسنین کھوکھر کے خلاف یکے بعد دیگرے مقدمات میڈیا کی آزادی اور صحافیوں کے تحفظ سے متعلق سنجیدہ سوالات اٹھاتے ہیں۔

07/05/2026

Women journalists in Pakistan continue to face online abuse, harassment, institutional exclusion, deepfake threats, and increasing legal targeting under PECA. These challenges not only silence critical voices but also undermine diversity, safety, and equal representation in the media landscape.
Protecting women journalists is essential to protecting press freedom itself.
Read the full report:
https://www.fnpk.org/weaponized-peca-undermining-free-speech-journalism-in-pakistan-freedom-network-report/

06/05/2026

Freedom Network’s findings indicate that state actors remain central to the enforcement of restrictive legal and regulatory measures, with a significant proportion of violations against journalists linked to legal proceedings, surveillance, and custodial actions. The increasing use of laws such as PECA has contributed to a climate where accountability reporting and dissent are met with pressure, fostering self-censorship and limiting independent journalism.
For report insights click the link below:
https://www.fnpk.org/weaponized-peca-undermining-free.../

05/05/2026

Punjab Assembly speaker assures support for legal framework to combat impunity in Punjab
LAHORE, 05 May 2026: The Punjab government recognises the importance of journalism and will take steps needed to protect journalists, the Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan told media watchdog Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak here on Tuesday in a meeting.

“The speaker’s office is ready to facilitate all stakeholders, including the government, working journalists and civil society, to jointly work towards a legislation protecting the journalists in Punjab province,” Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan told Iqbal Khattak, accompanied by Program Lead Minahil Shahab.

He said there was a need to facilitate the journalist community in the province adding that press clubs were playing “a bridge role” between the government and public. However, he believed every service provider was to work within or under any existing legal framework to promote responsible and ethical journalism.

During the meeting, the Punjab Assembly speaker was briefed on state of press freedom in Pakistan handing Freedom Network’s latest report on threat cases against journalists to mark the World Press Freedom Day on 03 May.

Iqbal Khattak told the speaker that groundwork for such legislation was already done during the caretaker government of Mohsin Naqvi in May 2023 when “Punjab Journalists Protection Coordination Committee (PJPCC)” was notified to facilitate investigation into attacks on journalists and media houses.

“We need to transform the administrative order (aboutPJPCC) into a legal framework passing law from the assembly floor,” Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak spoke on the occasion.

The Freedom Network executive director suggested that Punjab government must allocate some percentage of advertisement budget for capacity building of journalists encouraging media practitioners to promote ethical journalism to discourage disinformation and misinformation undermining independent journalism and safety of journalists.

05/05/2026

Freedom Network’s latest report highlight a growing misuse of legal frameworks to curb free speech in Pakistan. With 30 journalists implicated in 36 PECA proceedings and 187 “fake news” cases registered, concerns over censorship, intimidation, and shrinking civic space continue to rise. This trend not only impacts journalists but also weakens the public’s right to information and open dialogue.
Click the link below to read the full report:
https://www.fnpk.org/weaponized-peca-undermining-free.../