Journalist unions, civil society form free speech committee
At an Islamabad roundtable, journalists, unions and civil society formed a united alliance to defend freedom of expression in Pakistan's constitution amid censorship, legal pressure and economic strain.
Senior journalists, press unions, political leaders and civil society formed a united alliance in Islamabad to protect freedom of expression and expand civic space.
Speakers warned that censorship, legal harassment, economic insecurity and digital restrictions are undermining independent journalism.
Hamid Mir cited about 500 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) cases, including 35 against journalists; he said those figures need independent verification.
Unions from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan reported threats, self-censorship and job losses.
A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly proposal that would have jailed and heavily fined journalists for speaking against the speaker was withdrawn after protests.