To conceal POK bloodbath, Pak gags global media

Amid Islamabad's escalating clampdown on international news outlets over their coverage of the ongoing unrest and violence in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), the country's largest journalists' union and its oldest human rights organisation have condemned the measures, calling them a "dangerous blow to press freedom" and a "chilling message" to those engaged in critical reporting.

Pakistan has recently imposed fresh restrictions that require all journalists working for foreign media outlets to seek permission to travel outside Pakistan's three major cities of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

This clampdown came after Islamabad came under international scrutiny for its vicious crackdown on protestors in POK, which has resulted in at least 90 deaths since June. Several international media outlets, including the Qatar-based Al Jazeera had extensively reported on both the protests and the crackdown, leading to Islamabad branding its coverage as "yellow journalism", following which the broadcaster's website and digital platforms became inaccessible in the country.

The new restrictions, titled the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026, effectively place large parts of Pakistan, outside its three largest metropolitan areas beyond the reach of independent foreign reporting unless journalists first obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's External Publicity Wing (EP Wing).

While foreign journalists were previously required to secure NOCs, a process that could take months, many international news organisations circumvented the requirement by relying on Pakistan-based correspondents. The new guidelines close that avenue by requiring even Pakistani nationals employed by foreign media outlets to obtain NOCs before reporting from restricted areas.

PAK'S LARGEST JOURNALIST BODY CONDEMNS RESTRICTIONS

Pakistan's largest journalists' body, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), strongly condemned Islamabad's clampdown on foreign media outlets, describing them as an attack on freedom of expression and "a dangerous blow to press freedom".

Founded in 1950, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists is the country's largest representative body for journalists, advocating for press freedom, journalists' rights and media independence.

In a statement issued on Thursday, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari said the government had not only barred foreign journalists from travelling beyond Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi without prior approval, but had also extended the restrictions to Pakistani journalists working for international media organisations. They questioned how foreign correspondents and their local colleagues could "perform their professional duties" under such conditions.

The union warned that the restrictions would further damage Pakistan's global reputation, noting that the country already ranks among those with the worst records on press freedom. It also cautioned that the measures could cost Pakistani journalists their jobs, as reporters unable to travel would be unable to fulfil their professional responsibilities.

Calling the notification "an attack on freedom of expression" and "curbs on press freedom", the PFUJ said such measures "are taken in banana republics, not in countries that claim to follow democratic principles". It demanded the immediate withdrawal of the notification and warned that it would launch protests if the government failed to reverse the decision.

"These are ridiculous restrictions and are totally unacceptable," Zaffar Abbas, editor of the Dawn newspaper was quoted as saying by the BBC. "I have worked as a journalist in this country for over 40 years and have reported during the times of two military rulers and a number of autocratic civilian rules, but have never seen the imposition of such restrictions," he said.

PAK RIGHTS COMMISSION SAYS NEW RESTRICTIONS SEND A CHILLING MESSAGE

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also criticised the new regulations, warning that they would deepen state control over journalism and further shrink the space for independent reporting.

Established in 1987, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is the country's oldest independent human rights organisation, documenting rights violations and advocating for civil liberties, democratic governance and freedom of expression.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission said the requirement for journalists to obtain prior government approval before reporting from large parts of the country sends "a chilling message that critical reporting is unwelcome."

It warned that the new guidelines would "institutionalise bureaucratic control over news-gathering" and "risk deterring independent reporting on matters of public interest" rather than facilitating journalism.

Describing the rules as "the latest in a growing pattern of restrictions on media freedom in Pakistan," HRCP said arbitrary curbs on reporting, increasing censorship and legal and administrative barriers had steadily eroded the country's independent media landscape.

It urged the government to withdraw the "restrictive measures" and uphold its constitutional and international obligations to protect freedom of expression.

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