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December 15, 2024 – Pakistan –
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has sounded the alarm over a tightening crackdown on media freedom, warning that systemic harassment, intimidation, and violence against journalists are severely threatening press integrity in the country. PFUJ’s condemnation comes amid a broader context of recurring detentions, legal threats, and economic pressure on independent media outlets. The union emphasized that these tactics, which include filing sedition charges, enforcing blackouts on critical reporting, and orchestrating cyber harassment campaigns, aim to silence dissenting voices and chill investigative journalism at its core.
PFUJ voiced deep concern about recent cases involving prominent journalists who have been arrested without clear charges and held incommunicado, often after covering politically sensitive events. The union lamented state and non-state actors resorting to physical assaults, arbitrary detentions during on-the-job coverage, and denying access to legal aid. Additionally, it highlighted the use of fabricated allegations—such as money laundering or incitement charges—to weaponize legal systems against critical media. Equally worrying are incidents of cyber harassment, including doxxing and coordinated smear campaigns on social media, which have engulfed reporters and undermined their credibility and personal security.
The economic survival of independent media is also under threat. PFUJ noted that government bodies and business-linked actors are leveraging advertising bans and regulatory fines as tools to exert financial pressure on outlets and force self-censorship. Bound by financial coercion, some regional publications are reportedly cutting back on investigative coverage or resigning themselves to publishing only safe, non-controversial content.
PFUJ’s statement urged the government to halt all forms of harassment and urged the enactment of statutory guarantees for journalistic freedom. It called for transparent legal processes, independent oversight of law enforcement actions against journalists, and protection for media outlets from politically motivated financial reprisals. To end ongoing impunity, PFUJ stressed the importance of launching impartial inquiries into all assaults and ensuring perpetrators are held accountable.
Urging international attention, PFUJ appealed to democratic governments and media freedom bodies for solidarity and pressure on the Pakistani authorities. The union’s warnings underscore the urgent need to preserve press freedom in Pakistan, where journalists increasingly face a multi-layered crackdown that threatens both their safety and the public’s right to information.
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