On August 24, the Standing Committee of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) raised alarm over growing curbs on press freedom, citing the arbitrary use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), government advertisements being linked to favorable coverage, and the rise of self-styled media practitioners.

A resolution presented by Ali Ahmed Dhillon, and unanimously endorsed by members, demanded that no FIR or action under PECA be initiated against journalists without prior consultation with media bodies or review by an impartial committee.

CPNE President Kazim Khan stressed that the council supports only responsible journalism and would not defend those misusing the profession to spread fake news. He underlined the distinction between responsible freedom of expression and unrestricted freedom, adding that the Press Freedom Committee’s main task is to advocate for the rights of professional journalists.

Senior Vice President Ayaz Khan warned against official misrepresentation, vowing accountability for any authority exceeding its mandate under judicial cover. The committee also resolved to boycott provincial consultations until the Punjab government clarifies alleged misrepresentation before council members.

Secretary General Ghulam Nabi Chandio voiced concern over economic pressures on regional newspapers and called for transparency in advertisement distribution. He criticized favoritism toward certain media groups based on political victimization, terming it professional dishonesty to equate imprisonment for business reasons with sacrifices for press freedom.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, meanwhile, praised the role of Pakistani media in countering Indian narratives during recent tensions, describing the period as “extraordinary circumstances” and emphasizing that Pakistan’s real strength lay in “the truth, which cannot be hidden or countered.”