Lawfare & Fear: Pakistan's Growing War on Journalists
A new report reveals a disturbing trend of 'lawfare' and state pressure targeting journalists in Pakistan, including threats and physical attacks.
The landscape for press freedom in Pakistan has taken a sinister turn, shifting from overt physical violence to a calculated strategy of legal harassment. According to a damning new report by the Islamabad-based media watchdog Freedom Network, media professionals continue to operate under a cloud of threats, state pressure, and systematic intimidation during the 2025-26 period.
From Violence to Lawfare: A New Tactic of Control
The report, titled “From Violence to Lawfare: Process as Punishment for Journalists,” warns that while the raw number of recorded violations may have seen a decline, the actual safety of journalists has not improved. Instead, the state has pivoted toward "lawfare"—using the legal system as a weapon to silence dissent.
Authored by journalist Adnan Rehmat and Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak with technical support from International Media Support (IMS), the Impunity Report 2026 reveals a grim reality: an average of 10 incidents targeting media workers were documented every single month between October 2025 and August 2026.
The Toll: Deaths, Attacks, and Threats
The data paints a picture of a profession under siege. The report meticulously documents a series of attacks on the press, including:
- One journalist killed in connection with their professional duties.
- Three assassination attempts aimed at silencing critical voices.
- 18 threats of violence and 11 physical assaults.
- 13 formal legal proceedings and 32 threats of legal action.
Geographically, the province of Punjab emerged as the most dangerous hub for media workers, accounting for 49 incidents—more than half of all documented cases. Other regions experiencing high levels of hostility include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, and Balochistan.
The Weaponization of Cyber Laws
A primary tool in this campaign of suppression is the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The report highlights a worrying trend where the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is accused of utilizing cybercrime proceedings to target reporting that is critical of the state.
Journalists who dare to investigate public spending, official conduct, or government corruption often find themselves facing allegations of:
- Defamation
- Spreading misinformation
- Harassment
- Causing reputational damage to officials
Who is Behind the Pressure?
The vulnerability is most acute for independent and digital journalists, who lack the institutional protection of larger media houses. Perhaps most alarming is the source of the hostility; victims and their families allege that government authorities and officials were responsible for instigating nearly two-thirds of the recorded incidents.
Released just ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, the report serves as a stark reminder that in Pakistan, the process of legal prosecution has become the punishment itself.