• July 13, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

More than a month after the murder of journalist Khalil Jibran, Khyber police are still struggling to identify his killers. During a briefing at the Shah Kas Police Training Centre, District Police Officer Saleem Abbas Kulachi discussed the ongoing investigation, which has involved examining 13-14 suspects without confirming the identity of the actual assailants. Kulachi […]

• July 12, 2024
• Social Media

A Senate standing committee has expressed strong disapproval of the government’s decision to block the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), questioning the rationale and effectiveness of such measures in addressing national security concerns. During a session held on July 10, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications grilled government officials […]

• July 11, 2024
• Social Media

TikTok removed more than 20 million videos from Pakistan in the first quarter of 2024 due to violations of community guidelines. This makes Pakistan the second-highest country in terms of the number of videos removed, with the United States being the highest. According to TikTok’s latest transparency report, the platform removed 20,476,684 videos from Pakistan during this […]

• July 11, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

Three petitions have been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the government’s decision to authorize Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to tap phone calls.  The petitions argue that the order infringes upon citizens’ constitutional rights and lacks legal basis. On July 8, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication had formally empowered the ISI to intercept and […]

• July 11, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has formally empowered the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to intercept and trace telecommunications, citing national security needs. According to the notification issued, officers not below the rank of grade 18, as nominated by the ISI, are empowered to intercept and trace calls and messages through any telecommunication system, prioritizing national […]

• July 9, 2024
• Broadcasting

On July 8, the Islamabad High Court (IHC), led by Chief Justice Amir Farooq, issued notices to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and three journalists, including Gharida Farooqi, Ammar Solangi, and Hassan Ayub, in response to a social media campaign against Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. The seven-member bench, […]

• July 9, 2024
• General News

Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari, on July 8, announced a series of targeted initiatives aimed specifically at supporting the journalistic community in Murree. Key among the new initiatives is the construction of housing for journalists. The government plans to build flats and establish a dedicated housing society for registered journalists in Murree. To facilitate this, […]

• July 9, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) welcomes the Kenyan High Court’s ruling that declared the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif as “unlawful” and stresses the importance of a thorough and conclusive investigation into the killing of Sharif, including an investigation into the broader circumstances that led to his murder and reasons for his departure from […]

• July 9, 2024
• General News

Shahbaz Ahmed Khan Loond, the municipal chairman of Mirpur Mathelo, has been suspended by the Sindh government following his implication in the murder of journalist Nasrullah Gadani. Gadani was attacked by armed men on May 21 and succumbed to his injuries four days later. Earlier, Gadani’s mother, Pathani Gadani, and two other eyewitnesses asserted that Khalid Ahmad Loond, a Member of […]

• July 9, 2024
• General News

On July 8,  a poetry recitation session was held in Khyber to honor the literary contributions of the late tribal journalist Khalil Jibran. The gathering, held near Jibran’s home, saw participation from local poets, writers, and civil society members who condemned his murder and called for an end to violence in the region. Jibran, known […]

• July 9, 2024
• Social Media

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) rejects the government’s response justifying the blanket ban on X, formerly Twitter. Even if the government’s concerns regarding national security and public safety have validity, they do not justify the complete closure of the platform without any clear timeline or process for when such a ban could be lifted.  PPF calls […]

• July 9, 2024
• Freedom of Expression

A Kenyan High Court ruling on July 8 declared the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif unlawful, a violation of his fundamental rights, and ordered the Kenyan government to compensate his widow, Javeria Siddique, with 10 million Kenyan shillings (Rs21.7 million). Sharif, a prominent journalist with a successful career in Pakistan, including hosting popular shows on major […]

• July 9, 2024
• Broadcasting

Pakistan is set to launch Kisan TV, a dedicated television channel aimed at promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, as announced by Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, on July 7. Alam emphasized that Kisan TV will play a pivotal role in educating farmers about sustainable farming techniques, enhancing their ability to cope with changing […]

• July 9, 2024
• General News

On July 5, Meta conducted a significant digital transformation workshop aimed at enhancing the digital capabilities of government partners in Pakistan. The event, hosted at the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, drew the participation of key government officials including Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Secretary IT Captain (Retd) Muhammad […]