CPNE calls for unity, dialogue to fight censorship

KARACHI: At least seven journalists were killed in different circumstances in 2024 in Pakistan, an annual report on media freedom by Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) said on Tuesday.

“The Pakistan Media Freedom Report” for 2024-25 detailed challenges faced by journalists and media professionals across the country last year. It covered incidents ranging from journalists killings, arrests and abductions to legal pressures and forced exiles.

The report said press freedom remained under duress during the previous year. With ongoing challenges posed by both state and non-state actors, journalists operated under increasing pressure with a democratic framework, the CPNE characterised as authoritarian in practice.

The report documented death of seven journalists in connection with their professional work. The report highlighted the past killings of journalists, including those of Arshad Sharif, Ghulam Asghar Khund and Jan Muhammad Mehr, remained unresolved.

The report criticised state inaction and the impacts of laws, such as Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2025 (Peca) and Punjab’s Defamation Law 2024, which the CPNE said continued to erode press freedom.

The CPNE report reiterated its demand to repeal Peca 2025 and Punjab Defamation Law 2024, urging inclusive consultation in such future legislative processes.

Ali Kazam Waheed, president CPNE, expressed deep concern over deteriorating state of media freedom in Pakistan. “There is a surge in censorship, violence and harassment against journalists”, he said.

Addressing the report launch, media elders called for unity, dialogue within and outside, a peaceful movement to fight media and social media censorship, which they considered was on the rise. Talking about media freedom situation of the day, Mazhar Abbas said, “These are tough times”.

The media experts have asked for joint editorials, and forming a joint action committee for a peaceful struggle for press freedom and against censorship. They declared new Peca a draconian law.

The experts urged legislation through dialogue and inclusive approach. Wusatullah Khan, senior journalist, said semi-war like situation with India showed Pakistan’s media was responsible and the state elders also admitted this responsibility, and now they should pose confidence in the media.

Celebrating Pakistan victory over India in the recent conflict, senior journalist Hamid Mir said there was a need to improve governance, judicial, governance and media freedom and corruption index as compared to India.

The media elders observed Pakistani media lacked independence. They viewed there was direct and indirect censorship on media and cyber laws were being misused, weaponised against media persons, and individuals criticising the governance models and to silent online criticism.

They called for constitutional supremacy and an informed struggle through constructive grand dialogue and unity of civil society.

Senior journalists, writers, anchorpersons including, Najam Sethi, Absar Alam, Ayaz Amir, President Lahore Press Club and PFUJ leader Arshad Ansari, Chairman Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Harris Khalique also expressed their views.

Representative of Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) Rihan Ahmed read message of Azhar Abbas, president of the association. The representatives of International Federation of Journalists and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists participated in the launch report.