UN Human Rights Committee calls on Pakistan to “fully implement” media safety law and guarantee that journalists can work “safely, freely and independently”
The United Nations Human Rights Committee (Committee) has called on Pakistan to “fully implement” the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021 and “swiftly establish” the Commission mandated under the law. The Committee called on the State to guarantee that journalists and others, including human rights defenders and civil society actors, can work “safely, freely and independently” without fear of persecution, intimidation, harassment or reprisal.
In its concluding observations on Pakistan’s second periodic report on the implementation of provisions of the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Committee raised numerous concerns about the restrictions to free expression online and offline in Pakistan as well as the “frequent reports” of attacks on and of impunity for crimes against journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society actors.
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) routinely documents, investigates, and issues calls for action in response to incidents of violence, threats, and censorship of the media in Pakistan. In 2024, PPF has documented at least 117 confirmed instances of violence, intimidation, restrictive regulation, and censorship of the media. PPF has repeatedly called for the formation and effective functioning of the Commissions under the media safety laws, both federal and provincial in Sindh.
The UN Human Rights Committee provided five steps of action for Pakistan to take to ensure compliance with Article 19 of the CCPR.
- Take immediate steps to ensure everyone can exercise the right to free expression online and offline without interference. The Committee said this included reviewing or repealing specific legislation, end steps that “unduly restriction” free expression, including Internet shutdowns, website, and social media platforms blocks, and establishing an “independent and effective” oversight board to review and monitor decisions regarding internet censorship. The Committee said that they should ensure that any restrictions on free expression meet the conditions of the CCPR.
- Abstain from adopting measures or laws that could further lead to “undue restrictions” on the right to free expression. The Committee cited some instances, including the countrywide firewall and E-Safety Authority Bill 2023. They called for the State to ensure “broad consultations” with stakeholders.
- The Committee called on Pakistan to “consider decriminalizing defamation” and also ensure that certain laws, including criminal, sedition, and counter-terrorism laws, are not used to silence journalists and others.
- Called for the investigation of all allegations of enforced disappearance, torture, killing, and intimidation of journalists and others. The Committee called for perpetrators to be brought o justice, “appropriately sanctioned,” and appropriate reparations be provided to victims.
- Guarantee that journalists and others, including human rights defenders and civil society actors, can work “safely, freely and independently” without fear of persecution, intimidation, harassment or reprisal.
- Take “all measures necessary” to support a pluralistic media and ensure that the environment for journalists is a “safe and enabling one.” The Committee called on Pakistan to ensure this by implementing the media safety law and establishing the Commission.
In concluding observations, the Human Rights Committee expressed concern about “arbitrary restrictions” on online and offline free expression. They cited Internet shutdowns, including in May 2023 during protests by the Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf party and during the general elections in February, and the closure of social media platforms.
The Committee voiced concern about the “chilling effect” of certain laws, including defamation laws, on the free expression of different groups of individuals, including journalists. Amongst the laws cited included the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight, and Safeguards) Rules 2021, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Act 2023, and the Punjab Defamation Act 2024.
According to the UN Human Rights Committee, they were concerned about reports of “increased coercion and censorship” of media outlets for criticism of the government, military, and intelligence agencies. They said this included the closure and suspension of channels’ licenses by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
The Committee noted the adoption of the federal media safety law. Still, it said that it “remains concerned” about “frequent reports” of enforced disappearance, torture, killing, threats, harassment, and intimidation of journalists and others, including human rights defenders and civil society actors that were seen to be critical of the government or promoting issues considered sensitive. The Committee also noted the high level of impunity for these crimes.
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