The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) today issued a passionate appeal for the integration of strong safeguards for freedom of expression and protection of journalists in Pakistan’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (NAP-HR) 2026. The organization insists that these freedoms should serve as fundamental elements of human rights.
The Ministry of Human Rights recently unveiled a draft of NAP-HR 2026, delineating the country”s overarching human rights priorities. However, the PPF expressed significant concern over the absence of a distinct and quantifiable framework dedicated to safeguarding journalists and media practitioners. This omission exists despite the guarantees enshrined in Pakistan’s Constitution under Articles 19 and 19-A, alongside international commitments like Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In its formal submission, the PPF implores the Ministry to incorporate a specific section titled “Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, and Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals.” The foundation advocates for this section to be supported by robust monitoring tools and accountability mechanisms, aiming to ensure effective implementation beyond mere symbolic gestures.
Amid escalating dangers faced by female journalists, the PPF underscores the necessity for gender-sensitive protections. These include measures against aggressive online harassment, enhanced workplace safety protocols, and specialised digital security training to tackle emerging online threats.
Furthermore, the PPF stresses the critical need for enforceable commitments concerning digital rights and access to information. The organisation warns that internet shutdowns and digital restrictions continue to erode press freedom, hamper emergency reporting, and infringe on citizens’ right to access information.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the PPF reports that from January 2025 to April 2026, at least 233 incidents involving journalists and media professionals have been documented. These incidents include 67 assaults, 67 criminal complaints, 31 cases of threats and harassment, 11 arrests, 11 detentions, seven acts of censorship, and 10 instances of connectivity disruptions.
The PPF references existing legislative protections under the Federal Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, and the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act, 2021, urging for these laws to be more effectively enforced to safeguard the rights of journalists across the nation.