Pakistan

Journalist violence in Pakistan persists as one of the world’s most severe threats to press freedom, with the country ranking 158th out of 180 in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders—classified as a “very serious” situation. Pakistan remains among the deadliest places for media workers, where killings often stem from exposés on corruption, militancy, drug trafficking, or criticism of the military and government, compounded by near-total impunity.

In 2025, sources vary: the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) recorded three journalists killed in Pakistan amid a global tally of 128; the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) reported five killings; Human Rights Watch and others noted at least three to seven targeted deaths. Journalists also endured abductions, enforced disappearances, beatings, office attacks, and harassment. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was weaponized extensively, leading to hundreds of cases, arrests, summonses, and in-absentia convictions—often targeting critics of state institutions or exiled voices.

Notable incidents included militant-linked murders, cybercrime agency raids, and threats forcing self-censorship. Despite promises, no full justice has been achieved in journalist murders since 1992, eroding public trust and independent reporting in a polarized, militarily influential landscape.