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March 28, 2025 – Pakistan-
Pakistan witnessed a concerning escalation in its crackdown on press freedom, marked by the arrests of journalists Muhammad Waheed Murad and Farhan Mallick under the country’s cybercrime laws.
Murad, a multimedia journalist for Saudi-owned Urdu News, was forcibly taken from his Islamabad home on March 25 by individuals without a warrant. He was charged with “cyber terrorism” and spreading “false and fake information” after sharing an investigation into a military general on social media. Murad was granted bail on March 28, but his detention drew criticism from press freedom advocates who viewed it as part of a broader assault on journalism in Pakistan.
Similarly, Farhan Mallick, founder of the digital news platform Raftar, was arrested on March 20 in Karachi. He faced charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for allegedly disseminating “anti-state” content and was also accused of data theft through a call center. Mallick was granted bail in both cases on April 7, but his arrest underscored concerns about the use of cybercrime laws to suppress dissent.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of repression against journalists in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists have condemned these actions, warning that they threaten the very foundation of democracy.
The arrests of Murad and Mallick highlight the challenges faced by journalists in Pakistan, where reporting on sensitive issues, particularly those involving the military, can lead to severe consequences. As the government continues to enforce stringent cybercrime laws, concerns about the erosion of press freedom and the right to free expression in Pakistan persist.
Reference –
https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2594872/pakistan
https://www.dw.com/en/pakistani-journalist-charged-amid-press-freedom-crackdown/a-72044521
https://www.macaubusiness.com/pakistani-journalist-charged-with-online-disinformation-granted-bail/
