• October 11, 2024
• Freedom of Expression, Front Page

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) strongly condemned the multiple acts of violence, harassment, and detention of journalists while covering political protests by the opposition political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The recurring mistreatment of media professionals during politically charged events highlights an alarming trend where both law enforcement and political party members have disregarded press freedom […]

• October 10, 2024
• Broadcasting, Freedom of Expression, Front Page, General News

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is alarmed by the unacceptable overreach of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which has issued show-cause notices to television channels for their coverage of the terrorist attack on October 6 near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. The media must be able to report on critical developments in the country, including […]

• October 14, 2024
• General News

Mohammad Khurshid, a senior journalist, passed away on October 10 following a heart attack at his office in Peshawar. His funeral took place on October 11th in his hometown of Khar, Bajaur, with a large number of attendees, including journalists and local dignitaries. Khurshid, 60, began his career with The Frontier Post and worked with various newspapers throughout his career. […]

• October 14, 2024
• Freedom of Expression, Front Page

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar announced action against police officers involved in the arrest and assault of women protesters and journalists during a day of protests in Karachi on October 13 despite a ban on public gatherings under Section 144. An investigation into police misconduct has been initiated, with officers who assaulted journalists facing […]

• October 14, 2024
• Freedom of Expression, Front Page, General News

Three journalists from South Waziristan—Farooq Mehsud of Aaj TV and President of the Mehsud Press Club, Ishtiaq Mehsud of Mashaal Radio and former president of the club, and Aslam Mehsud of daily Ummat —were mistakenly added to Pakistan’s Fourth Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), a list meant for individuals suspected of terrorism or anti-state activities. The listing restricted their […]

• October 11, 2024
• Access to Information

Zong customers in various cities faced significant disruptions to both mobile and data services on October 10 due to the installation of a new Web Management System (WMS). The connectivity issues started around noon, with many users reporting intermittent service and some experiencing a complete blackout. The disruptions affected both individual and corporate customers, sparking complaints across […]

• October 11, 2024
• Broadcasting

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on October 9 reserved its judgment on petitions filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Dastoor) and court reporters, who challenged directives issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) instructing television channels to refrain from airing tickers and headlines about ongoing court proceedings. The journalists’ counsel, Abdul […]

• October 10, 2024
• Access to Information

Internet users in Pakistan continue to experience widespread disruptions and slow internet speeds, even as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reassured the public that these issues will be resolved by the end of October. The PTA attributes these disruptions primarily to issues with undersea cables, but some areas also face deliberate internet shutdowns during […]

• October 9, 2024
• Social Media

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has refused to comply with the Pakistani government’s requests for a content takedown, citing a need for additional information to justify its actions. On October 8, the Sindh High Court (SHC), presided over by Chief Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Jawad Akbar Sarwana, heard petitions challenging the government’s social media […]

• October 9, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

Several journalists, including Geo News reporter Haider Shirazi, Dawn News reporter Tahir Naseer, and ABN News reporter Zahida Rao, were violently assaulted by police while covering a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad. Meanwhile, Faizan Hussain, former Secretary General of the Khyber Union of Journalists, was arrested by police in Peshawar during a separate PTI protest. Despite identifying themselves as journalists, […]

• October 9, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

Investigative journalist Azaz Syed is facing a wave of threats following his critical analysis of the religio-political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), without explicitly naming it, during a broadcast on his show, Talk Shock, according to The News. The threats, which include online harassment and intimidation, have sparked widespread concern among the journalist community and human […]

• October 8, 2024
• Access to Information

After a prolonged 51-hour blackout, mobile and internet services were restored in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on October 6. This suspension, which had significantly impacted residents and businesses, resulted from heightened government security measures to curb potential unrest during political protests. The shutdown, coinciding with demonstrations led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, caused widespread communication disruptions, […]

• October 5, 2024
• Social Media

Widespread internet and mobile service disruptions hit major Pakistani cities on October 4, leaving millions of users struggling to access popular apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. The outages coincided with protests organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Islamabad, raising concerns that the disruptions were linked to the political unrest. According to Downdetector, a service that […]

• October 5, 2024
• Social Media

On October 3, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) alerted investors about the increase in fraudulent investment schemes promoted through social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. These schemes often involve unauthorized groups and individuals falsely claiming to be registered professionals or affiliated with legitimate companies. They use various tactics, including AI technology and impersonation of regulatory bodies, […]