Islamabad, November 2, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Sunday voiced deep concern over a surge in crimes targeting journalists, reporting a 60% increase in violations against media professionals across the country during the past year.
Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the PFUJ revealed that 142 cases of attacks, threats, and rights violations were recorded nationwide, warning that independent journalism and the right to information in Pakistan are “facing serious threats.”
The journalists’ body urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and protection of media workers. It demanded transparent investigations into all attacks on journalists, accountability for perpetrators, and compensation for victims and their families.
“Freedom of expression cannot be guaranteed until those responsible for attacks on journalists are punished,” the PFUJ said in its statement, calling for the creation of a safe and enabling environment for the media to operate freely.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message on the occasion, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding press freedom and ensuring a secure working environment for journalists.
“A free press is the guarantee for a strong, transparent, and democratic Pakistan,” the prime minister said, adding that acts of violence or intimidation against journalists are “attacks on freedom of expression itself.”
He paid tribute to journalists who continue their work despite challenges and expressed solidarity with families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty. The prime minister also pledged effective investigations and legal action against those involved in crimes targeting journalists.
PM Shehbaz further urged the international community, media organisations, and civil society to work collectively to uphold press freedom and protect journalists from threats and violence.
