Sohrab Barkat Detained: Pakistan’s Latest Crackdown on Press Freedom

December 02, 2025 – Pakistan – 

Journalist Sohrab Barkat — an Islamabad-based correspondent for the online outlet Siasat and host of a YouTube news channel — was detained at Islamabad International Airport on November 26, 2025, while en route to a United Nations conference. The arrest stems from a case filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which accuses him of publishing an interview containing “derogatory remarks” about state institutions.

The source of the alleged insult was not Barkat himself, but a guest on his show — a member of the main opposition party — whose comments were aired during the interview. Barkat’s lawyers argue that as a salaried employee and presenter, he merely conducted the interview and had no editorial control over the remarks.

A court in Lahore has granted a four-day physical remand to NCCIA, allowing investigators time to examine Barkat’s social media accounts and phone data. The next hearing is scheduled for early December, though it remains unclear whether additional remand will be granted.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the detention as a disturbing example of state efforts to intimidate the media. They urged Pakistani authorities to immediately release Barkat, drop all charges, and ensure independent journalists can operate without fear.

Barkat’s case highlights a growing pattern in Pakistan: journalists being penalized — not for their own statements — but for merely broadcasting others’ critiques. Legal experts and press-freedom advocates warn that this trend threatens media independence and risks chilling public discourse. As investigative reporting increasingly becomes entangled with accusations of defamation or “anti-state” content, many journalists say they are being forced to self-censor to avoid detention.

For now, Sohrab Barkat remains in custody. The outcome of his case could set a worrying precedent for press freedom in Pakistan, where conducting an interview may be treated as a crime.

Reference – 

https://www.dawn.com/news/1957998

Pakistani journalist Sohrab Barkat detained over interview with opposition politician