Punjab leads tally for cases involving threats to journalists

ISLAMABAD: Punjab accounted for the largest share of reported threats against journalists in Pakistan during the second quarter of 2026, with 15 of the 22 documented cases recorded nationwide between April and June, according to a review released by the Freedom Network and carried in Dawn.

The quarterly assessment, described in the monitored public feed, said the overall number of reported incidents rose from 18 in the first quarter to 22 in the second, marking an increase of 22 per cent. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw three documented cases in the second quarter, down from five in the previous quarter. Sindh and Balochistan each recorded one case in both quarters, while Islamabad Capital Territory and Gilgit-Baltistan each had one case in the second quarter. No verified incidents were reported from Azad Jammu and Kashmir this year.

The review said the documented cases covered a wide range of violations, including actual legal action, threat of legal action, arrest, assault with and without injury, threats of harm, threats to murder, and, in one case each, attempt to murder and kidnapping.

A major trend identified in the report was the growing use of legal and administrative tools to pressure or intimidate journalists. According to the assessment, state actors were the principal source of threat in 15 of the 22 cases, or 68 per cent. The report said journalists working through digital platforms or covering governance, corruption and matters of public interest were especially exposed.

Several cases cited in the review involved journalists facing investigations or criminal proceedings under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, anti-terrorism laws and other criminal statutes. The report said this pattern pointed to a continued reliance on legal and regulatory mechanisms against print, electronic and online media practitioners, as well as against people expressing dissenting views on digital platforms.

Physical attacks also remained a concern. The review referred to an attempted murder in Vehari district, where journalist Abdul Ghaffar survived an attack, and to a serious assault on Mian Zahid Owaisi in Bahawalpur district, which left him badly injured. Other incidents involving journalists named in the report highlighted risks faced by those reporting on corruption, crime, governance and local administration.

Owaisi was quoted in the review as saying he believed he had been targeted for his reporting and said attackers assaulted him with sticks and clubs, causing serious injuries.

The report also said threats and intimidation were common for journalists investigating corruption and abuse of authority, with some receiving death threats after publishing reports involving government institutions, local administration or public officials. It added that digital journalists, YouTubers, freelancers and social media commentators appeared to face particularly high levels of pressure.

The review noted that most of the documented cases involved male journalists, and said no verified case involving a woman journalist was recorded during the quarter.

This article is based on a monitored public feed and reports findings released by Freedom Network as published by Dawn. Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017436/punjab-leads-tally-for-cases-involving-threats-to-journalists