ore than 200 cases have been filed against journalists and bloggers by the state in Pakistan over the past year, according to the annual report by Freedom Network, an organisation working on press freedom. The report says that media freedom has been severely constrained over the past year. It says journalists have been threatened by the state as well as non-state actors.

Every year on May 3 rights and protection of journalists are celebrated worldwide. However, with the recent rise in attacks on media personnel and restrictive laws curbing freedoms of the press and expression, concerns for the journalist community and rights activists in Pakistan are growing.

The Freedom Network fears of another crackdown on journalists have raised concerns among the journalists in Pakistan, especially those based in the recently merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Qazi Fazlullah, president of the Tribal Union of Journalists, says that journalists based in the tribal districts sharing a border with Afghanistan are exposed to greater danger. He worries that the situation might get worse. He says that non-state actors have geared up their attacks on police and security forces in the tribal areas. This has also raised the risk for journalists.

“Around 60 percent of tribal journalists have already migrated from their home towns but their lives are still in danger,” says Qazi.

The TUJ president says that 14 tribal journalists have lost their lives in militancy and target killings. He says homes of several tribal journalists have been destroyed in the militancy and the military operations that have followed it. He says that journalists based in Peshawar, Islamabad and Karachi are also being threatened by the militants.

Qazi says the terrorists operating in the region have increased the frequency of their attacks over the past months. Qazi says this is a sign that the militants are regrouping in the area. He mentions that a judge was recently kidnapped in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in broad daylight indicating that the militants have become bolder.

Qazi Fazlullah says tribal journalists alone are not at risk for militants’ actions. He says their families, too, are in danger now. He says a pamphlet distributed by a militant group recently warned tribal journalists to stay away from security forces. He adds that the Taliban have warned journalists in Khyber and Waziristan districts that their families will also be targeted unless their instructions were followed.

“I can go underground for some time to avoid being attacked but how can I protect my school-going children who are also exposed to the threat,” says Qazi Fazlullah. He says they have left their hometown but remain vulnerable. Qazi says terrorists want to use the media as their mouthpiece to spread fear and chaos.

Qazi urges fellow journalists to minimise their movement. He also advises them to report carefully, keeping in mind their own safety.

Gohar Ali Khan, a senior journalist and provincial coordinator for Freedom Network in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says that between May 23, 2023, and April 23, 2024, four journalists were killed in Pakistan. He says two of them were from the Punjab and two from Sindh.

The Freedom Network report also expresses concern about the personal data protection and e-safety bills approved by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf led government in July 2023 and the next legislature.

Gohar Ali Khan says that if these bills become law, these could pose a danger to journalists who produce content for social media. He says social media users could be prosecuted for content-related decisions.

Senior journalist Haq Nawaz Khan, affiliated with The Washington Post, says that freedom for journalists is shrinking day by day. He says restrictions imposed on freedom of expression are illegal and a violation of fundamental human rights.

“The difficulty is that criticism meant to lead to reform is not acceptable to the governments and some religious/ political groups. We disagree with a lot of the social media content. However, if it does not breach a law, it should be tolerated,” says Haq Nawaz.

“If criticism of certain policies on social media results in action being taken against those who criticised it then one cannot call it a democratic system,” he adds.

Arif Yousafzai, a senior journalist based in Peshawar, says that ‘taking action’ against journalists for their work is nothing new in Pakistan. Yousafzai says that he has witnessed many incidents of violence against journalists during his career.

“The issue is that in Pakistan many rulers resort to media restrictions,” he says.

However, Yousafzai also says unrestricted social media is dangerous and supports its regulation. He says journalists and civil society activists should be consulted ahead of the legislation.

“Beyond a point, governments cannot be trusted; they can enact harmful laws to save themselves.”

The writer is a freelance journalist and a social activist