ISLAMABAD: Senior journalists, representatives of press unions, political leaders and civil society members have formed a united alliance to protect freedom of expression, strengthen journalists’ unions and expand civic space in Pakistan, warning that censorship, legal harassment, economic insecurity and restrictions on digital communication are undermining independent journalism across the country.

The call was made at a roundtable titled “How to Strengthen the Custodians of Free Speech to Expand the Space for Freedom of Expression?” moderated by senior journalist Munizae Jahangir and presided over by veteran journalist Nasir Zaidi.

The roundtable proposed the formation of the committee to protect freedom of expression which will consult relevant stakeholders, undertake systematic documentation of restrictions on free speech and develop a charter of demands, after a wide consultation amongst journalists and other stakeholders.

The participants stressed that a broad-based alliance, supported by strong journalists’ unions was essential to protect independent journalism and expand the space for free expression in the country.

Six-member committee formed to protect freedom of expression

The committee will be headed by Nasir Zaidi and its members are Arshad Ansari, Saleem Shahid, Tahir Hassan Khan, Qamar Bhatti and Munizae Jahangir.

The roundtable brought together elected journalist unions from all over the country, besides Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to assess challenges to freedom of expression and discuss practical measures to protect journalists and defend civic freedoms.

Speaking at the roundtable, prominent journalist Hamid Mir said the accounts shared by journalists from the provinces and regions reflected longstanding restrictions on freedom of expression, but argued that the role of political parties in introducing and passing restrictive legislation needed to be documented.

He proposed preparing a white paper documenting restrictions on freedom of expression and the role of political parties in enacting them.

Veteran journalist Mujeebur Rehman Shami said Pakistan’s problem was not simply the absence of laws, but the failure to implement existing legislation effectively. He proposed preparing a comprehensive document analysing relevant laws, their implementation and their impact on freedom of expression.

Senior journalist Sohail Warraich said responsibility for protecting the fundamental right to free expression rested with society as a whole.

He stressed that restoring freedom of expression required political parties and other groups to clearly state their commitment to the principle.

He called for all political and social forums to openly express their position on freedom of expression and ensure that their actions matched their stated commitments.

Veteran journalist Najam Sethi regretted political parties were not strong supporters of freedom of expression and were failing to protect people’s rights.

He said journalism had been damaged by self-censorship, with media owners imposing restrictions when journalists did not censor themselves.

Describing the situation as dismal, he said media organisations were increasingly focused on survival with a limited agenda rather than pursuing broader journalistic objectives.

Anchorperson Asma Shirazi said laws such as Peca (Prevention of Electronic Crimes) should not be enacted or used to suppress journalists and restrict freedom of expression. She expressed particular concern over online trolling and harassment targeting women, saying such abuse was often dismissed as a minor offence despite the fact that it forced many women to leave social media platforms.

Senior journalist Arifa Noor said there was a need to document abuses against journalists and the censorship imposed on the media.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Secretary General Arshad Ansari said a united alliance was the need of the hour and journalists’ unions must lead the effort to protect press freedom. He expressed concern over the absence of arrests or convictions in the murders of 51 journalists.

Vice-President PFUJ KP chapter Nasir Hussain said over 30 journalists had been killed in KP since 9/11, while the Peshawar Press Club had also been targeted in a terrorist attack.

Punjab Union of Journalists Secretary General Qamar Bhatti said cases under Peca were frequently used to threaten and intimidate journalists.

Senior journalist Arif Wahab said journalists in AJK were working in an atmosphere of fear, with concerns about possible arrests and restrictions on reporting. He said a disruption in internet connectivity lasting more than three months had severely affected journalists.

Former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar urged the proposed alliance to engage political parties directly and present a structured account of restrictions on freedom of expression, along with clear demands. The responsibility for defending free speech, he argued, could not rest with journalists alone.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who addressed the event through a video link, defended the need for amendments to cybercrime legislation, arguing that the regulatory framework governing traditional media could not adequately address the challenges posed by social media. He said the absence of comparable mechanisms for social media had created gaps in addressing online threats, harassment and blackmail. He argued that the government needed mechanisms to address such cases and protect citizens from online abuse, while maintaining that the government’s position on social media regulation was not intended to undermine freedom of expression.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026