Pakistan is facing fresh criticism over press freedom after journalist and researcher Danish Irshad was reportedly placed on the country’s Fourth Schedule, an administrative terrorism watch list that can impose restrictions on movement, finances and public activities.

Irshad has reportedly documented developments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir for nearly a decade, including recent protests, the security crackdown and the deaths of civilians. His reported inclusion on the Fourth Schedule has raised questions among journalists, activists and rights groups over the use of anti-terror provisions against a journalist.

Critics argue that the reported absence of a public trial or clearly stated criminal allegations against Irshad raises serious concerns about press freedom and independent journalism. Pakistani journalists and activists have reportedly described the move as an attack on media freedom and warned that it could have a chilling effect on journalists covering protests, human rights and political unrest.

The development comes amid broader restrictions on media access and reporting from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign journalists and Pakistani staff working with international media have reportedly faced additional government clearance requirements for reporting outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

Pakistan Places Journalist Danish Irshad On Fourth Schedule Terror Watch List | Press Freedom Under Fire

<p>Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused Al Jazeera of "yellow journalism" for its coverage of violence during the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) elections. Users in Pakistan reported that access to the Qatari broadcaster's website had been blocked, though there is no formal government directive on this. This came days after a Pakistani general warned against Afghanistan-India ties, asking the Muslim-majority neighbour not to associate with 'kafirs', or disbelievers. But Al Jazeera is a channel from Qatar, a Muslim-majority nation with which Pakistan has traditionally enjoyed friendly relations. So it is not about ‘’kafirs". Then what is it?</p><h2>Kafir narrative punctured: Criticism of Pakistan is the problem</h2><p>On July 31, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said: "Allah Almighty has made it very clear — do not take the kafirs [disbelievers] as your friends or protectors. If you do so, then you are no longer among the Muslims." Reacting to recent remarks by an Afghan Taliban minister that India and Afghanistan shared the same DNA, Chaudhry framed the relationship as one of master and slave. "RSS-BJP are masters, Taliban their slaves," he said, referring to India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).</p><p>This is typical Pakistan, invoking a religious binary to explain geopolitical rivalries and casting itself as the defender of the Muslim world confronting hostile, non-Muslim adversaries.</p><p>But none of this matters when Pakistan is killing or suppressing its own people, from PoJK to the regions along its border with Afghanistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.</p><p>If Pakistan can restrict, vilify, and delegitimise reporting by one of the most influential media organisations in the Islamic world, then kafirs are not its problem; scrutiny is.</p><h2>Don't kill the messenger: Nothing wrong with Al Jazeera reporting on PoJK violence</h2><p>The recent protests and their violent suppression in PoJK followed allegations of electoral irregularities and unrest surrounding the polls in the territory, which New Delhi does not recognise as part of Pakistan, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistan's illegal occupation, are inalienable parts of India.</p><p>Pakistan could have responded with fact-based arguments addressing the substance of Al Jazeera's reportage through transparency or independent verification. Instead, its Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused the broadcaster of "selective reporting" from "handpicked polling stations". It alleged that Al Jazeera had used "scripted statements" to serve "external actors with vested interests".</p><p>It amounted to questioning, and then 'killing', the messenger rather than addressing the events on the ground, and asing the crucial question: Why are people in PoJK unhappy?</p><p>There was no transparent, publicly notified prohibition on Al Jazeera issued by either the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) or the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, at the time of writing this.&nbsp;<br>Instead, users reported that Al Jazeera's website had become inaccessible, suggesting an unofficial or extra-legal restriction rather than a formally declared ban.</p><h2>A Chinese model of digital censorship architecture: Pakistan's 'little Great Firewall'</h2><p>By the time you read this, access to the Al Jazeera website may well have been restored. And that is precisely the problem. In recent years, this has become a familiar pattern in Pakistan's digital censorship regime: websites disappear without formal orders, only to reappear later without explanation, making accountability almost impossible.</p><p>That censorship is possible because Pakistan now has one of South Asia's — and perhaps the world's — most sophisticated systems of internet control, increasingly modelled on China's approach to censorship.</p><p>Under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), further strengthened through subsequent amendments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) can block online content on broad and vaguely defined grounds such as "national security", "public order", or even the "glory of Islam".</p><p>To facilitate this, Pakistan has deployed a Web Monitoring System, initially built around technology supplied by Sandvine.</p><p>This has been expanded with capabilities comparable to China's internet filtering system, commonly referred to as the Great Firewall.&nbsp;<br>Much like the Chinese model, Pakistan now possesses the technological capability to block URLs, filter keywords, inspect internet traffic through deep packet inspection, and compel online platforms to remove content within prescribed timelines.&nbsp;<br>Circumventing these restrictions has become increasingly difficult because of VPN registration requirements and tighter licensing frameworks.</p><h2>Journalism, monitored: Pakistan's multipronged attack on media</h2><p>This digital control is reinforced by expanding bureaucratic oversight of journalism itself. The 2026 Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines mandate that all foreign correspondents, freelancers, and stringers operating in Pakistan register with the government and obtain prior No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before reporting from most parts of the country outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.</p><p>As reporting on PoJK increased amid the violence that killed dozens, the government tightened the implementation of these guidelines and further restricted access to sensitive areas.</p><p>Clearly, the objective is to manage and suppress narratives, not enable independent reporting.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pok-violence-escalates-67-dead-as-india-rejects-pakistan-s-polls-as-a-cosmetic-exercise-gravitas-1785260044466">PoK violence escalates: 67 dead as India rejects Pakistan's polls as a 'cosmetic exercise' | Gravitas</a></p><h2>Pakistan's media blackouts are nothing new: Remember the Osama raid?</h2><p>The curbs on Al Jazeera are nothing new. Remember the Abbottabad raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011? That single operation exposed the fact that the world's most wanted terrorist had been living for years inside Pakistan, close to a major military academy, raising uncomfortable questions that Islamabad struggled to answer for years.</p><p>When the US Navy SEALs entered Pakistani territory to eliminate the al-Qaeda chief behind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Pakistan asked international broadcasters, including CNN, the BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Voice of America, and Sky News, to halt live reporting and leave the area.</p><p>Radio Mashaal was suspended in 2018 after being accused of anti-Pakistan reporting. The BBC has periodically faced restrictions. Local broadcasters such as Geo News have repeatedly been suspended or taken off air. Indian television channels remain banned. Numerous digital platforms critical of the government have been blocked or throttled.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/j-k-leaders-unite-to-condemn-crackdown-on-pok-protesters-call-for-dialogue-1785399859433">J&amp;K leaders unite to condemn crackdown on PoK protesters, call for dialogue</a></p><h2>Press freedom: A 'very serious' problem in Pakistan</h2><p>Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), placing it in the "Very Serious" category. Freedom House classifies Pakistan as only "Partly Free" overall, while rating its internet environment as "Not Free".</p><p>Military influence over the media, legal intimidation, digital censorship, enforced disappearances of journalists, and restrictions on independent reporting all contribute to these dubious distinctions.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pok-erupts-against-pakistan-protest-leader-declares-kashmir-is-occupied-territory-1784093238306/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/pok-erupts-against-pakistan-protest-leader-declares-kashmir-is-occupied-territory-1784093238306/embed</a></p><h2>Is external criticism ‘anti-Muslim’ for Pakistan?</h2><p>The Pakistani establishment — comprising the government, military, and intelligence apparatus — often invokes Islam as the defining faultline separating Pakistan from India.</p><p>External criticism is frequently portrayed as an extension of prejudice against a Muslim state. Such religious framing collapses when critical reporting on Pakistan originates not from New Delhi, London, or Washington, but from Doha.</p><p>Al Jazeera's reporting is not the work of a "kafir" state pursuing an anti-Islam agenda.</p><h2>So what's the moral of this story?</h2><p>States that are uncomfortable with independent journalism resort to crackdowns regardless of ideology, religion, or the geography of their critics.</p><p>Discredit the reporter, question the channel's motives, invoke national security, tighten access, and restrict the flow of information.</p><p>Pakistan's handling of Al Jazeera demonstrates precisely this instinct. It reveals that the Pakistani establishment's objection is not to criticism from non-Muslim countries.</p><p>It is to criticism itself.<br>It is about inconvenient truths.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i>DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WION.</i></p>

Pakistan's restrictions on Al Jazeera over PoJK election coverage expose a pattern of media censorship, internet control and narrative management. This has nothing to do with its 'kafir' rhetoric against critics, as the broadcaster is from Qatar, a fellow Muslim nation. 

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused Al Jazeera of "yellow journalism" for its coverage of violence during the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) elections. Users in Pakistan reported that access to the Qatari broadcaster's website had been blocked, though there is no formal government directive on this. This came days after a Pakistani general warned against Afghanistan-India ties, asking the Muslim-majority neighbour not to associate with 'kafirs', or disbelievers. But Al Jazeera is a channel from Qatar, a Muslim-majority nation with which Pakistan has traditionally enjoyed friendly relations. So it is not about ‘’kafirs". Then what is it? Kafir narrative punctured: Criticism of Pakistan is the problem On July 31, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said: "Allah Almighty has made it very clear — do not take the kafirs [disbelievers] as your friends or protectors. If you do so, then you are no longer among the Muslims." Reacting to recent remarks by an Afghan Taliban minister that India and Afghanistan shared the same DNA, Chaudhry framed the relationship as one of master and slave. "RSS-BJP are masters, Taliban their slaves," he said, referring to India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This is typical Pakistan, invoking a religious binary to explain geopolitical rivalries and casting itself as the defender of the Muslim world confronting hostile, non-Muslim adversaries. But none of this matters when Pakistan is killing or suppressing its own people, from PoJK to the regions along its border with Afghanistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. If Pakistan can restrict, vilify, and delegitimise reporting by one of the most influential media organisations in the Islamic world, then kafirs are not its problem; scrutiny is. Don't kill the messenger: Nothing wrong with Al Jazeera reporting on PoJK violence The recent protests and their violent suppression in PoJK followed allegations of electoral irregularities and unrest surrounding the polls in the territory, which New Delhi does not recognise as part of Pakistan, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistan's illegal occupation, are inalienable parts of India. Pakistan could have responded with fact-based arguments addressing the substance of Al Jazeera's reportage through transparency or independent verification. Instead, its Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused the broadcaster of "selective reporting" from "handpicked polling stations". It alleged that Al Jazeera had used "scripted statements" to serve "external actors with vested interests". It amounted to questioning, and then 'killing', the messenger rather than addressing the events on the ground, and asing the crucial question: Why are people in PoJK unhappy? There was no transparent, publicly notified prohibition on Al Jazeera issued by either the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) or the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, at the time of writing this. Instead, users reported that Al Jazeera's website had become inaccessible, suggesting an unofficial or extra-legal restriction rather than a formally declared ban. A Chinese model of digital censorship architecture: Pakistan's 'little Great Firewall' By the time you read this, access to the Al Jazeera website may well have been restored. And that is precisely the problem. In recent years, this has become a familiar pattern in Pakistan's digital censorship regime: websites disappear without formal orders, only to reappear later without explanation, making accountability almost impossible. That censorship is possible because Pakistan now has one of South Asia's — and perhaps the world's — most sophisticated systems of internet control, increasingly modelled on China's approach to censorship. Under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), further strengthened through subsequent amendments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) can block online content on broad and vaguely defined grounds such as "national security", "public order", or even the "glory of Islam". To facilitate this, Pakistan has deployed a Web Monitoring System, initially built around technology supplied by Sandvine. This has been expanded with capabilities comparable to China's internet filtering system, commonly referred to as the Great Firewall. Much like the Chinese model, Pakistan now possesses the technological capability to block URLs, filter keywords, inspect internet traffic through deep packet inspection, and compel online platforms to remove content within prescribed timelines. Circumventing these restrictions has become increasingly difficult because of VPN registration requirements and tighter licensing frameworks. Journalism, monitored: Pakistan's multipronged attack on media This digital control is reinforced by expanding bureaucratic oversight of journalism itself. The 2026 Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines mandate that all foreign correspondents, freelancers, and stringers operating in Pakistan register with the government and obtain prior No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before reporting from most parts of the country outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. As reporting on PoJK increased amid the violence that killed dozens, the government tightened the implementation of these guidelines and further restricted access to sensitive areas. Clearly, the objective is to manage and suppress narratives, not enable independent reporting. Also read: PoK violence escalates: 67 dead as India rejects Pakistan's polls as a 'cosmetic exercise' | Gravitas Pakistan's media blackouts are nothing new: Remember the Osama raid? The curbs on Al Jazeera are nothing new. Remember the Abbottabad raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011? That single operation exposed the fact that the world's most wanted terrorist had been living for years inside Pakistan, close to a major military academy, raising uncomfortable questions that Islamabad struggled to answer for years. When the US Navy SEALs entered Pakistani territory to eliminate the al-Qaeda chief behind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Pakistan asked international broadcasters, including CNN, the BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Voice of America, and Sky News, to halt live reporting and leave the area. Radio Mashaal was suspended in 2018 after being accused of anti-Pakistan reporting. The BBC has periodically faced restrictions. Local broadcasters such as Geo News have repeatedly been suspended or taken off air. Indian television channels remain banned. Numerous digital platforms critical of the government have been blocked or throttled. Also read: J&K leaders unite to condemn crackdown on PoK protesters, call for dialogue Press freedom: A 'very serious' problem in Pakistan Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), placing it in the "Very Serious" category. Freedom House classifies Pakistan as only "Partly Free" overall, while rating its internet environment as "Not Free". Military influence over the media, legal intimidation, digital censorship, enforced disappearances of journalists, and restrictions on independent reporting all contribute to these dubious distinctions. https://www.wionews.com/videos/pok-erupts-against-pakistan-protest-leader-declares-kashmir-is-occupied-territory-1784093238306/embed Is external criticism ‘anti-Muslim’ for Pakistan? The Pakistani establishment — comprising the government, military, and intelligence apparatus — often invokes Islam as the defining faultline separating Pakistan from India. External criticism is frequently portrayed as an extension of prejudice against a Muslim state. Such religious framing collapses when critical reporting on Pakistan originates not from New Delhi, London, or Washington, but from Doha. Al Jazeera's reporting is not the work of a "kafir" state pursuing an anti-Islam agenda. So what's the moral of this story? States that are uncomfortable with independent journalism resort to crackdowns regardless of ideology, religion, or the geography of their critics. Discredit the reporter, question the channel's motives, invoke national security, tighten access, and restrict the flow of information. Pakistan's handling of Al Jazeera demonstrates precisely this instinct. It reveals that the Pakistani establishment's objection is not to criticism from non-Muslim countries. It is to criticism itself. It is about inconvenient truths. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WION.

<p>Pakistan's restrictions on Al Jazeera over PoJK election coverage expose a pattern of media censorship, internet control and narrative management. This has nothing to do with its 'kafir' rhetoric against critics, as the broadcaster is from Qatar, a fellow Muslim nation.&nbsp;</p>

Pakistan 'blocks' Al Jazeera website over PoJK reportage: So it's not about 'kafirs', is it?

<p>The global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Wednesday it was an "obscenity" for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to say that press freedom was thriving in his country.</p>

<p>During a recent visit to the United States, Khan had said talking about curbs on press freedom in Pakistan was a "joke".</p>

<p>"It is clear that either you are very poorly informed, in which case you should urgently replace the people around you, or you are knowingly concealing the facts, which is very serious, given your responsibilities," wrote RSF Secretary-General, Christophe Deloire.</p>

<p>Given a recent surge in press freedom violations, which RSF enumerated in a statement, "you will appreciate that to talk of 'one of the freest presses in the world' is clearly tantamount to an obscenity," Deloire said.</p>

<p>He urged Khan to "allow Pakistan's journalists to exercise their profession in complete safety and with complete independence.</p>

<p>"The credibility of the Pakistani state and democracy is at stake," Deloire wrote.</p>

<p>Khan, a cricket hero who captained the national team to World Cup victory in 1992, was elected last summer after running a fiery campaign -- vowing to crack down on corruption and build an Islamic welfare state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But, nearly one year later, his rule has been marred by a crackdown on civil rights activists, the rounding up of opposition leaders, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/news-tv-blackouts-in-pakistan-draw-fresh-accusations-of-censorship-239745">increased pressure on the press</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His government is also struggling to right the country's floundering economy, with ballooning deficits, soaring inflation, and a sinking rupee stirring discontent.</p>

<p>Earlier in July, Khan's government launched another blistering attack on the press, linking critical coverage to potential "treason".</p>

<p>Also in July, a number of private television channels had their broadcasts cut after screening a press conference with opposition leader Maryam Nawaz.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Committee to Protect Journalist last year warned that the powerful Pakistani military had "quietly, but effectively, set restrictions on reporting".</p>

<p>Pakistan routinely ranks among the world's most dangerous countries for media workers, and reporters have frequently been detained, beaten and even killed for being critical of the government or powerful military.</p>

<p>In recent years the space for dissent has shrunk further, with the government announcing a crackdown on social networks and traditional media houses decrying pressure from authorities that they say has resulted in widespread self-censorship.</p>


The global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Wednesday it was an "obscenity" for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to say that press freedom was thriving in his country.

The global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Wednesday it was an "obscenity" for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to say that press freedom was thriving in his country. During a recent visit to the United States, Khan had said talking about curbs on press freedom in Pakistan was a "joke". "It is clear that either you are very poorly informed, in which case you should urgently replace the people around you, or you are knowingly concealing the facts, which is very serious, given your responsibilities," wrote RSF Secretary-General, Christophe Deloire. Given a recent surge in press freedom violations, which RSF enumerated in a statement, "you will appreciate that to talk of 'one of the freest presses in the world' is clearly tantamount to an obscenity," Deloire said. He urged Khan to "allow Pakistan's journalists to exercise their profession in complete safety and with complete independence. "The credibility of the Pakistani state and democracy is at stake," Deloire wrote. Khan, a cricket hero who captained the national team to World Cup victory in 1992, was elected last summer after running a fiery campaign -- vowing to crack down on corruption and build an Islamic welfare state. But, nearly one year later, his rule has been marred by a crackdown on civil rights activists, the rounding up of opposition leaders, and increased pressure on the press. His government is also struggling to right the country's floundering economy, with ballooning deficits, soaring inflation, and a sinking rupee stirring discontent. Earlier in July, Khan's government launched another blistering attack on the press, linking critical coverage to potential "treason". Also in July, a number of private television channels had their broadcasts cut after screening a press conference with opposition leader Maryam Nawaz. The Committee to Protect Journalist last year warned that the powerful Pakistani military had "quietly, but effectively, set restrictions on reporting". Pakistan routinely ranks among the world's most dangerous countries for media workers, and reporters have frequently been detained, beaten and even killed for being critical of the government or powerful military. In recent years the space for dissent has shrunk further, with the government announcing a crackdown on social networks and traditional media houses decrying pressure from authorities that they say has resulted in widespread self-censorship.

Watchdog group slams Pakistan PM Imran Khan over press freedom

<p>The ruling party of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched another blistering attack on the press, linking critical coverage to potential "treason" in the latest broadside against the beleaguered media.</p>

<p>The official account of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party fired off over two dozen tweets in English and Urdu late Tuesday, lambasting the press for coverage criticising the government and PM Imran&nbsp;Khan which it deemed "anti-state".</p>

<p>"Freedom of expression is beauty of democracy. Expressing enemy's stance is not freedom of speech but treason against its people," read one tweet.</p>

<p>"Media houses &amp; journalists must take care that in their quest for criticism on State, they intentionally or unintentionally do not end up propagating enemy's stance," read another, with the hashtag: #JournalismNotAgenda.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Media houses &amp; journalists must take care that in their quest for criticism on State, they intentionally or unintentionally do not end up propagating enemy’s stance. Freedom of expression is immense power. And with great power there is great responsibility!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JournalismNotAgenda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JournalismNotAgenda</a> <a href="https://t.co/YdxD9Al5Pb">pic.twitter.com/YdxD9Al5Pb</a></p>
— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1151131210871013377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>Pakistan routinely ranks among the world's most dangerous countries for media workers, and reporters have frequently been detained, beaten and even killed for being critical of the government or powerful military.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Instead of serving as self appointed spokespersons of political parties, nitpicking &amp; manipulating stories to suit a particular narrative, the fundamental responsibility of a journalist is to be impartial and truthful to their profession and nation. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JournalismNotAgenda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JournalismNotAgenda</a> <a href="https://t.co/mtxAJJ4TFe">pic.twitter.com/mtxAJJ4TFe</a></p>
— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1151117986385678341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>In recent years the space for dissent has shrunk further, with the government announcing a crackdown on social networks and traditional media houses decrying pressure from authorities that they say has resulted in widespread self-censorship.</p>

<p>Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders recently warned of "disturbing dictatorial tendencies" after three Pakistani TV stations were briefly taken off air in what it called "brazen censorship".</p>

<p>The Committee to Protect Journalist last year warned that the powerful Pakistani military had "quietly, but effectively, set restrictions on reporting".</p>

<p>The government has defended its record, and last week Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a media freedom conference in London that there was "no question of gagging" journalists after being challenged on his country's record.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Freedom of press is a part of freedom of expression; given it does not hurt state or nation <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JournalismNotAgenda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JournalismNotAgenda</a> <a href="https://t.co/rBhCRgP0Fb">pic.twitter.com/rBhCRgP0Fb</a></p>
— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1151111480328237056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Prime Minister Khan, a cricket hero who captained the national team to World Cup victory in 1992, was elected last summer after running a fiery campaign -&nbsp;vowing to crack down on corruption and build an Islamic welfare state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But, nearly one year later, his rule has been marred by a crackdown on civil rights activists, the rounding up of opposition leaders, and increased pressure on the press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His government is also struggling to right the country's floundering economy, with ballooning deficits, soaring inflation, and a sinking rupee stirring discontent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among other tweets, the PTI also warned that the media was a "powerful tool of depicting the positive image of our country. Anti-State actions not only impact the credibility of our journalism community but also sends out a wrong message to the world".<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The ruling party of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched another blistering attack on the press, linking critical coverage to potential "treason" in the latest broadside against the beleaguered media.

The ruling party of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched another blistering attack on the press, linking critical coverage to potential "treason" in the latest broadside against the beleaguered media. The official account of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party fired off over two dozen tweets in English and Urdu late Tuesday, lambasting the press for coverage criticising the government and PM Imran Khan which it deemed "anti-state". "Freedom of expression is beauty of democracy. Expressing enemy's stance is not freedom of speech but treason against its people," read one tweet. "Media houses & journalists must take care that in their quest for criticism on State, they intentionally or unintentionally do not end up propagating enemy's stance," read another, with the hashtag: #JournalismNotAgenda. Media houses & journalists must take care that in their quest for criticism on State, they intentionally or unintentionally do not end up propagating enemy’s stance. Freedom of expression is immense power. And with great power there is great responsibility!#JournalismNotAgenda pic.twitter.com/YdxD9Al5Pb — PTI (@PTIofficial) July 16, 2019 × Pakistan routinely ranks among the world's most dangerous countries for media workers, and reporters have frequently been detained, beaten and even killed for being critical of the government or powerful military. Instead of serving as self appointed spokespersons of political parties, nitpicking & manipulating stories to suit a particular narrative, the fundamental responsibility of a journalist is to be impartial and truthful to their profession and nation. #JournalismNotAgenda pic.twitter.com/mtxAJJ4TFe — PTI (@PTIofficial) July 16, 2019 × In recent years the space for dissent has shrunk further, with the government announcing a crackdown on social networks and traditional media houses decrying pressure from authorities that they say has resulted in widespread self-censorship. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders recently warned of "disturbing dictatorial tendencies" after three Pakistani TV stations were briefly taken off air in what it called "brazen censorship". The Committee to Protect Journalist last year warned that the powerful Pakistani military had "quietly, but effectively, set restrictions on reporting". The government has defended its record, and last week Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a media freedom conference in London that there was "no question of gagging" journalists after being challenged on his country's record. Freedom of press is a part of freedom of expression; given it does not hurt state or nation #JournalismNotAgenda pic.twitter.com/rBhCRgP0Fb — PTI (@PTIofficial) July 16, 2019 × Prime Minister Khan, a cricket hero who captained the national team to World Cup victory in 1992, was elected last summer after running a fiery campaign - vowing to crack down on corruption and build an Islamic welfare state. But, nearly one year later, his rule has been marred by a crackdown on civil rights activists, the rounding up of opposition leaders, and increased pressure on the press. His government is also struggling to right the country's floundering economy, with ballooning deficits, soaring inflation, and a sinking rupee stirring discontent. Among other tweets, the PTI also warned that the media was a "powerful tool of depicting the positive image of our country. Anti-State actions not only impact the credibility of our journalism community but also sends out a wrong message to the world".

Freedom of expression beauty of democracy, expressing enemy's stance is not freedom of speech: Imran Khan's PTI to local media

<p>A Pakistani reporter has been detained and charged under cybercrime laws for criticising security forces on social media, officials and his family said Friday, the latest sign of a state crackdown on free speech.</p>

<p>Zafarullah Achakzai, who works at Urdu daily Qudrat, was picked up from his house Sunday by the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC), the security force deployed in restive Balochistan province.</p>

<p>&quot;FC personnel in uniform came in five vehicles and raided my house late Sunday night. They cordoned the streets and asked for my son without mentioning any charge,&quot; Achakzai&#39;s father Naimatullah Achakzai, who is also chief editor of Qudrat, told AFP.</p>

<p>&quot;We did not know where they took him... After five days they handed him over to the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency), which charged him under cybercrime laws for criticising the FC,&quot; Achakzai said.</p>

<p>He said that Zafarullah appeared in court on Thursday and was remanded into FIA custody for six more days as the investigation continues.</p>

<p>Two local government officials confirmed Zafarullah&#39;s arrest and charges.</p>

<p>&quot;If my son had done anything wrong, he should have been arrested according to the law and not picked up in the middle of the night like an outlaw,&quot; Achakzai said.</p>

<p>The Balochistan Union of Journalists criticised the &quot;illegal confinement&quot;.</p>

<p>Zafarullah had criticised the FC on his Facebook page for the deteriorating law and order situation in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, and for security forces&#39; &quot;failure&quot; to bring the perpetrators of sectarian killings to justice, a colleague told AFP, requesting anonymity.</p>

<p>&quot;If his criticisms violated any law, he should have been arrested properly as he like every other citizen has right to due process,&quot; the colleague said.</p>

<p>Pakistan is ranked among the world&#39;s most dangerous countries for journalists, and reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag, with journalists at times detained, beaten and even killed.</p>

<p>The country has also had a history of enforced disappearances over the past decade. In January five social media activists went missing for several weeks after taking a stand against religious intolerance and criticising the military, raising concerns of government involvement that were denied by officials.</p>

<p>Pakistan&#39;s parliament passed the cybercrime law last August, despite opposition from rights activists. Campaigners have long complained of creeping censorship in the name of protecting religion or preventing obscenity.</p>

<p>Human rights organisations said they feared more arrests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We are concerned at the authorities&#39; zero-tolerance for critics on social media,&quot; the independent Freedom Network said in a statement, adding that Zafarullah&#39;s detainment was a &quot;grim&quot; sign that &quot;more arrests will follow&quot;.</p>


Zafarullah Achakzai has been charged under new cybercrime laws, which was introduced in August last year

A Pakistani reporter has been detained and charged under cybercrime laws for criticising security forces on social media, officials and his family said Friday, the latest sign of a state crackdown on free speech. Zafarullah Achakzai, who works at Urdu daily Qudrat, was picked up from his house Sunday by the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC), the security force deployed in restive Balochistan province. "FC personnel in uniform came in five vehicles and raided my house late Sunday night. They cordoned the streets and asked for my son without mentioning any charge," Achakzai's father Naimatullah Achakzai, who is also chief editor of Qudrat, told AFP. "We did not know where they took him... After five days they handed him over to the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency), which charged him under cybercrime laws for criticising the FC," Achakzai said. He said that Zafarullah appeared in court on Thursday and was remanded into FIA custody for six more days as the investigation continues. Two local government officials confirmed Zafarullah's arrest and charges. "If my son had done anything wrong, he should have been arrested according to the law and not picked up in the middle of the night like an outlaw," Achakzai said. The Balochistan Union of Journalists criticised the "illegal confinement". Zafarullah had criticised the FC on his Facebook page for the deteriorating law and order situation in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, and for security forces' "failure" to bring the perpetrators of sectarian killings to justice, a colleague told AFP, requesting anonymity. "If his criticisms violated any law, he should have been arrested properly as he like every other citizen has right to due process," the colleague said. Pakistan is ranked among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists, and reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag, with journalists at times detained, beaten and even killed. The country has also had a history of enforced disappearances over the past decade. In January five social media activists went missing for several weeks after taking a stand against religious intolerance and criticising the military, raising concerns of government involvement that were denied by officials. Pakistan's parliament passed the cybercrime law last August, despite opposition from rights activists. Campaigners have long complained of creeping censorship in the name of protecting religion or preventing obscenity. Human rights organisations said they feared more arrests. "We are concerned at the authorities' zero-tolerance for critics on social media," the independent Freedom Network said in a statement, adding that Zafarullah's detainment was a "grim" sign that "more arrests will follow".

Pakistani journalist arrested over Facebook posts criticising security forces