• December 3, 2024
• Access to Information

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman, Major General (retired) Hafeezur Rehman, confirmed on November 30 that the government has approved extending the deadline for registering Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). However, no new deadline for registration has been announced. The PTA had earlier introduced an online portal aimed at simplifying the registration process. The Interior Ministry had issued a VPN registration directive, emphasizing the […]

• December 3, 2024
• General News

Journalist Shakir Mehmood Awan, who was allegedly abducted from his home on the night of November 27, returned safely in the early hours of December 1. Awan’s mother had filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on November 28, seeking the immediate recovery of her son. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh presided over the hearing on November 29 and […]

• December 3, 2024
• Access to Information

Internet users across Pakistan once again reported significant disruptions in connectivity, with many struggling to access global platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khwaja responded to a question about the internet firewall and issues in connectivity by stating that the issue has been “blown out of proportion.” Users began […]

• December 3, 2024
• Obituaries

Senior journalist and Karachi Press Club member Bakht Ali Abbasi passed away on December 2 at the age of 38.  He succumbed to cardiac complications after a prolonged battle with heart disease. Despite his health challenges, he maintained an unwavering commitment to journalism, earning him immense respect among his peers. Abbasi began his career in […]

• December 3, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

Senior journalist Matiullah Jan was released after being granted bail by an Anti Terrorism Court in Islamabad on November 30. The bail was granted against a bond of Rs10,000. Jan was arrested in a terrorism and narcotics possession case in what rights groups and journalist bodies termed a “bogus” case on “trumped up charges.” Jan was presented before an […]

• December 3, 2024
• Social Media

Several school and college principals in Islamabad have fallen victim to WhatsApp account hacks, with scammers using these accounts to solicit money from students and parents. The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and the Ministry of Education have issued a warning, urging principals to inform parents about the scams and to take precautionary measures. Dr. Mohammad Qamaruddin, […]

• December 3, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

A Hafizabad court on November 29 confirmed the pre-arrest bails of six journalists accused of resisting police operations and allegedly aiding proclaimed offenders in fleeing the outhouse of former Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mehdi Hassan Bhatti. The journalists were ordered by the court to submit surety bonds of Rs50,000 each. Advocates Shah Nawaz Madni and Arshad Mehand represented them. […]