Islamabad: Civil Society through an open letter on the World Press Freedom Day has made an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif. In a letter written to PM Shehbaz Sharif by over civil society members including senior journalists, columnists and anchorpersons it is stated that 'As the world marks World Press Freedom Day this May 3rd, we are writing to bring to your urgent attention the increasingly challenging environment in which journalists operate within Pakistan.

While this day is intended to celebrate the fundamental principles of a free press, for many media professionals in Pakistan, it serves as a somber reminder of the risks they endure to keep the public informed. A viable democracy is defined by the strength of each of its institutions-foremost among them, a free and independent press, with verifiable facts and analysis as its only priority. Unfortunately, the current professional space for many journalists in Pakistan is marred by an unfortunate pattern of intimidation, physical violence, and legal harassment. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) has frequently been at the center of legal battles involving press freedom in Pakistan, especially as it seems that the law is being used as a tool for "regulatory repression," and the primary objective is to harass and intimidate journalists into silence, rather than secure a conviction'.

The letter says 'In September 2020, the FIA filed an FIR against Islamabad-based journalist Asad Toor for allegedly defaming state institutions on social media. However, no evidence could be presented in court, and in early 2021, the Lahore High Court dismissed the case, citing a complete lack of evidence to support the charges. Toor was arrested once again in February 2024 for an alleged "malicious campaign" against the judiciary. Once again after three weeks in custody, an Islamabad trial court granted him bail, noting that the allegations were unsubstantiated. Similarly, the case of Farhan Mallick, founder of the digital news platform Raftaar, serves as a stark example of "charge stacking" and judicial overreach under the PECA.

Mallick was arrested in March 2025 by the FIA on allegations of running an "anti-state" campaign through his YouTube channel, and as he was set to be transferred to jail, a second, unrelated FIR was filed accusing him of patronizing a call-center spoofing operation. Despite these serious accusations and the temporary blocking of his news platform, his legal team successfully argued that the charges were a "fishing expedition" devoid of incriminating material, noting that the content in question predated the very laws being used to prosecute him. Consequently, Mallick secured bail in April 2025 and was eventually acquitted in January 2026, with the court ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish any specific evidence of anti-state activity, effectively concluding that the ordeal was a targeted attempt at harassment rather than a legitimate criminal pursuit'.

The letter says that 'There are many other cases of journalists who have been booked under PECA only to be released later because there was no concrete evidence presented against them by law enforcement, including Rizwan Razi, Amir Mir, Imran Shafqat and the most recent Fakhrur Rehman. The case of Iman Hazir Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha is also a case of weaponization of PECA against human rights defenders. There is another disturbing trend of picking up citizens and journalists without any formal charge and then later slapping them with PECA laws and other vague charges. Therefore, the arrest and enforced disappearances of journalists has terrorized the community, who are now forced to self-censor themselves, thereby denying the audience access to critical information. There is another disturbing trend of picking up citizens and journalists without any formal charge and then later slapping them with PECA laws and other vague charges. Therefore, the arrest and enforced disappearances of journalists have terrorized the community, who are now forced to self-censor themselves, thereby denying the audience access to critical information. Despite constitutional guarantees under Article 19, the reality on the ground tells a different story. From April 2025 to March 2026, the Freedom Network has documented 58 legal cases filed against journalists, the majority of which were under PECA provisions'.

The letter says 'All journalists' bodies are united in their opinion that vague definitions used in laws recently adopted (such as the description of fake under PECA) lead to the victimization of journalists and citizens and muzzle free expression. Journalists are now increasingly complaining of unannounced 'WhatsApp censorship,' where editors and owners of private media houses are approached and unofficially conveyed who to include or, more importantly, ban on television. Another disturbing development is that now journalists are penalized for their own individual expression on social media through calls made to the editors and owners of media houses. Journalists are threatened that they would lose their jobs and will be blocked if they tried to find another; worse, their media houses will be penalized if they do not "fall into line" through 'WhatsApp censorship.' Furthermore, the use of broad anti-terrorism and sedition laws, alongside stringent digital regulations, has created a framework where fact based reporting is often treated as a criminal act, whereas the journalists are merely doing their job. Beyond legal threats, the media industry faces a severe economic crisis.

Delayed wages and arbitrary layoffs have made journalists vulnerable to external influences, compromising the integrity of independent reporting. The withdrawal of ads from the government has ended up weakening some of the most respected and long established media groups such as the Dawn newspaper, which has always maintained a balanced stance in its editorial and reporting. Pakistan also consistently ranks among the most dangerous countries for journalists. The "culture of impunity" persists, where crimes against media workers-ranging from abductions to targeted killings-rarely result in convictions. The country is being led by political parties that have always believed strongly in democracy and the constitution'.

The letter says 'In December 2021, the leadership of the then Opposition - including yourself as the President of PML-N - vowed to resist the draconian Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA). At that time, a solemn promise was made to the media fraternity: that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) stood firmly with journalists in their historic struggle for freedom. Then in December 2022, at a Journalist Safety Forum in your keynote address you said "My government would like to be part of the efforts of all relevant stakeholders in making Pakistan democracy stronger through free media and safer journalists." Today, as the head of the government, there is a profound expectation that those commitments will be honored through the protection of the press, rather than its restriction. Now, as the head of the government, the media fraternity looks to your leadership to transform those past pledges into present-day policy, ensuring that the 'fourth estate' is protected as promised'.

On this commemorative day we urge the government led by you to ensure the full implementation of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act. It must be more than just a document; it must be a functional shield.

Establish a high-level task force to oversee the investigation of unsolved cases involving attacks on journalists, ensuring that those who silence the truth are held accountable.

Review and reform restrictive cyber laws that stifle online dissent and investigative digital journalism.

The letter says civil society remains steadfast in the belief that a free press is indispensable to the progress of Pakistan. We urge your administration to take concrete and measurable steps to dismantle the culture of intimidation and harassment that currently stifles our journalists and greatly compromises a free independent media.

The signatories of the letter include Hussain Naqi - Veteran Journalist, Nasir Zaidi - Former Secretary PFUJ, Salima Hashmi - Artist/ Human Rights activist, Farhatullah Babar - Former Senator (PPP)/Human Rights Activist, Harris Khalique - General Secretary, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Hina Jilani - Human Rights Lawyer, Former Chairperson HRCP, Nasim Zehra- Senior Journalist and Analyst, Hamid Mir - Senior Journalist and Anchorperson, Munizae Jahangir - Journalist/Anchorperson and Co Chair HRCP, Xari Jalil, Journalist, Benazir Shah - Journalist, Fauzia Kalsoom Rana - Founder Women Journalists Association of Pakistan WJAP, Nabila Feroze Bhatti - Activist/Columnist, Peter Jacob - Activist/Columnist, Arifa Noor - Columnist and Senior Journalist, Dr. Ambreen Sikander - Senior Journalist and Assistant Professor, Maryam Zia- Journalist, Night Said Khan - Women' s Action Forum, Michelle Chaudhry - Human Rights Activist, Alia Malik - Advocate, Amir Zia - Senior journalist, Nasir Jamal - Bureau Chief Da wn, Alifya Sohail - Human rights reporter, Soch, Ali Furqan, Journalist / Media unionist, Tanveer Shahzad, photo journalist, Muhammad Bilal Baseer Abbasi, Journalist, Ayesha Fiaz, Journalist, Muhammad Tahseen, Human Rights Activist, Amir Suhail, Vice President Punjab Union of Journalists, Bushra Khaliq, Human Rights Activist, Neelum Hussain.

Teacher, Salman Rashid, Historian/Writer, Khawar Mumtaz, Women and Human rights activist/defender, Afrasiab Khattak former Senator and Co Chair HRCP, Robina Shaheen, Human Rights Activist, Raees Ansari , Senior Journalist, Maheen Pracha, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Farooq Tariq, Human rights activist, Rubina Jamil, Trade Unionist, Saleem Shahid, Senior Journalist, Sadia Bokhari, rights activist, Kiran Mirza, Vice president Sukkur Union of Journalists, Nighat Dad, Digital Rights Foundation, Naumana Suleman, Human Rights Defender, Naziha Syed Ali, Senior Journalist, Yashfeen Jamal, Anchorperson Neo News, Javeria Siddique, Columnist Roznama Dunya and Regional Gender Coordinator IFJ, Nadeem Fazil, Lawyer/Social Activist, Naeema Malk, Human Rights Defender, Umaima, Freelance Journalist, Zohra Yusuf, former Chairpeson of HRCP, Nasreen Azhar, vice chair of HRCP, Mahar Safdar Ali, Senior Member Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan, Tariq Usmani President RIUJ, Asad Ali Toor Journalist, Anila Ashraf Journa list Lubazad, Rani Wahidi DW Urdu, Laiba Zainab Nukta Digital, Naziha Syed Ali Journalist, Shama Siddique Journalist.

Naseem Akhtar Shaikh Chief Editor Daily Sindh Amar Karachi, Tanzila Mazhar GTV, Matiullah Jan, senior Journalist, Zeenat Shehzadi, Journalist, Tanveer Jahan, human rights defender, Fauzia Shahid, former secretary General PFUJ, Mona Siddique Journalist, Imrana Komal Journalist, Farah Naz Journalist, Imran Takkar activist, Syeda Ghulam Fatima General Secretary Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF), Zahid Hussain Senior Journalist and Columnist, Usama Khilji, Digital rights activist and columnist, Muhammad Aftab Alam, lawyer and freedom of expression advocate, Zainab Jamil, Activist - Aurat March Islamabad, Farrah Taufiq- Activist- Women's and Human Right Defender, Advocate Fareed Khan Kakar- Legal Advisor of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan, Syeda Kashmala, Advocate High Court, Rukhsana Rashid, WAF Islamabad, Naheed Aziz, WAF Islamabad, Aqsa Khan, Women Rights Activist, Tasneem Ahmar, UKS, Fauzia Yazdani, WAF Islamabad, Memoona Rauf Khan, WAF Islamabad, Nasreen Azhar, WAF Islamabad, Maryam Kiyani, Social Development Practitioner, Abeer Noor Bano, Activist - Aurat March Islamabad, Tahira Abdullah, Human rights defender, Samina Rahman, Women's Action Forum, Shiba Gill, journalist Xp Blue Zone and LCCI, Farida Shaheed, WAF Lahore, Asmatullah Niazi Sr Broadcast Journalist, Irfan Mufti, human rights defender, A. Hussain Social Welfare, Amir Wasim, senior journalist, Dawn, Dr. Maria Rashid, Academic and Activist, Maham Tariq, Feminist Activist, Nasir Mansoor, National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF), Rashid Rahman Senior journalist and Editor, Sabrina Ijaz Advocate High Court, Lala Hassan, HRD and Media Lawyer at Sindh, Zeeba T. Hashmi, columnist and researcher, Founder at Ibtidah for Education, Dr. Tehreem Azeem, Assistant Professor, NUST. Marvi Sirmed, Editor South Asian Affairs, New Wave Global, Ms Sheema Kermani, Activist, Actor, Dancer and Director, Anwaar Sheikh, HR defender and Hameer Sheikh, anchor/journalist