CPNE releases Pakistan Media Freedom Report 2024–25 in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD : The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on Tuesday launched its annual Press Freedom Report for the year 2024–25, during a ceremony titled “Pain of Chain” held in Islamabad.
The launch ceremony, attended by senior journalists and human rights activists, marked the release of CPNE’s annual assessment of the state of media freedom in the country.

The report documented death of seven journalists in connection with their professional work. The report highlighted the past killings of journalists, including those of Arshad Sharif, Ghulam Asghar Khund and Jan Muhammad Mehr, remained unresolved.
According to the report, the PECA Act 2025 and the Defamation Law 2024 are attacks on freedom of expression. The Punjab and federal governments did not consult stakeholders on media laws. Journalism is under state and non-state pressure, and freedom of expression is in grave danger.

The CPNE report reiterated its demand to repeal Peca 2025 and Punjab Defamation Law 2024, urging inclusive consultation in such future legislative processes. In particular, the report highlighted delays in advertising payments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a growing trend of legal cases being filed against journalists and social media users. The Quetta Press Club, it said, also faced attempts at closure.

Speaking at the event, CPNE President Kazim Khan reaffirmed the council’s commitment to press freedom. “We dedicate this report to our martyred colleagues and promise their families that justice will be pursued,” he said, adding that the CPNE’s press freedom committee finalises the report each year.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) president Anthony Dominique, who also addressed the gathering, urged the Pakistani government to review PECA through a consultative process involving key stakeholders. “No democracy is complete without a free press,” he remarked.

The IFJ’s Secretary General expressed concern over the threats faced by journalists in Pakistan and reiterated support for CPNE and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), stressing the need for urgent reforms to protect press freedom and the safety of media workers
Senior journalists, writers, anchorpersons including, Najam Sethi, Absar Alam, Ayaz Amir, President Lahore Press Club and PFUJ leader Arshad Ansari, Chairman Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Harris Khalique also expressed their views.