Pakistan Journalist Nadir Abbas Baloch Targeted with Intimidation and Threats

Pakistani journalist Nadir Abbas Baloch, who runs a YouTube channel reporting on human rights issues, has been subjected to repeated summons and alleged harassment by state authorities and hostile actors, raising concerns among press freedom advocates about targeted intimidation of independent media workers. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on January 27, 2026, urged Pakistani officials to stop their harassment of Baloch and to protect his ability to continue reporting without fear of retaliation.

Baloch was first summoned by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on December 12, 2025, over alleged “derogatory remarks” published on his channel, according to CPJ and reviews of the summons. When he did not appear at the agency’s Lahore office, a second summons followed on January 7, 2026, though neither notice clearly identified the specific content deemed objectionable. Baloch told CPJ he believes the legal actions are directly linked to his coverage of human rights concerns, including allegations that a group misused Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to extort money from victims — a sensitive and highly controversial topic in the country.

In addition to legal pressure, Baloch reported facing online harassment and threats tied to his reporting and identity. On May 30, 2025, his vehicle was reportedly vandalised outside his home in Rawalpindi, and on December 4, 2025, he said he was shadowed by an unmarked car returning from the Islamabad High Court, where he was covering a case involving a human rights lawyer. On the same day, a spokesperson for a prominent mosque in Islamabad labelled him a “supporter of rebels against the Finality of Prophethood” on social media, a dangerous accusation in Pakistan’s context because it associates someone with the persecuted Ahmadi religious community — although the post was later deleted.

CPJ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi said authorities should cease targeting Baloch and instead focus on protecting journalists, including shielding them from threats and online abuse. The organisation’s statement highlighted that using cybercrime and defamation laws to intimidate reporters undermines journalistic freedom and fosters self-censorship among those covering sensitive societal issues.

Pakistan’s Information Minister, the NCCIA Director, and the individual named as complainant in the summons did not respond to requests for comment from the media or CPJ. The case underscores broader patterns in Pakistan where journalists covering contentious subjects face legal and personal risks, often linked to overlapping laws and weak procedural safeguards.

Reference –

https://www.journalismpakistan.com/cpj-urges-pakistan-to-stop-targeting-journalist-nadir-baloch

Pakistan journalist Nadir Abbas Baloch targeted with intimidation, threats