In annual 2025 Media Freedom Report, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) raised serious concerns over the state of media freedom in Pakistan, stating that journalists and media organisations faced sustained pressure, censorship and punitive actions throughout the year despite strict state control over information.
According to the report, released on December 31, by the Press Freedom and Monitoring Committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, journalists continued to face killings, arrests, treason cases, harassment and economic pressure between January 1 and December 31, 2025. The report said measures such as blocking bank accounts, cancelling national identity cards, placing names on the Exit Control List (ECL) and suspending government advertisements were widely used to silence critical voices.
The CPNE documented that during 2025, five journalists were killed, six faced cases, arrests or other official actions, and three were subjected to harassment or intimidation. It also reported that two press conferences were blocked, two media offices were attacked, two major digital restrictions were imposed and one controversial piece of legislation had a severe impact on freedom of expression.
The report stated that several journalists were targeted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, while others faced extraordinary actions such as the freezing of bank accounts and suspension of national identity cards. Despite these conditions, violence and legal proceedings against journalists continued throughout the year.
It further highlighted growing uniformity in print and electronic media content, raising concerns about the independence of journalism. As a result, Pakistan’s position in global media freedom rankings declined. In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders, Pakistan fell six places to 158th position from 152nd in 2024.
According to the CPNE, strict government policies, coercive use of the PECA law, controlled advertising practices, press advisories and censorship forced many newspapers to close. The report said newsrooms of major media groups became largely empty due to downsizing and layoffs, while several television journalists, including Kashif Abbasi, Habib Akram, Paras Jahanzaib, Samina Pasha, Sami Ibrahim, Arif Hameed Bhatti and Khalid Jamil, were taken off air or compelled to leave their positions.
The report also noted that the Dawn Media Group lost government advertisements across print, electronic and radio platforms due to its editorial policy. It added that the Jang, Awaaz and Waqt media groups faced similar pressure, resulting in staff reductions.
Particular concern was expressed over the situation in Balochistan, where the CPNE said unofficial censorship, news blackouts and prolonged internet shutdowns severely damaged print media, pushing several newspapers close to closure.
The CPNE condemned all reported violations and urged federal and provincial governments to end violence and illegal actions against journalists, review restrictive laws and ensure freedom of expression in line with the Constitution and international democratic standards.
