CPJ demands release of missing journalists in Pakistan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 4 August 2026 |  JP Global Monitoring

CPJ urged Pakistani authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif, reportedly taken by men in police uniforms in Islamabad on Aug 1. It said Raja Ikram was released and that there were possible media access limits.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Pakistani authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif, who remain missing after they were reportedly taken by men wearing police uniforms in Islamabad on August 1.

In a statement issued on August 3, the New York-based press freedom organization said authorities must acknowledge the journalists' detention if they are in state custody, ensure they receive due process, and release them without delay. CPJ also noted that Kashmiri journalist Raja Ikram, who was reportedly detained in Islamabad on the same day, has since been released.

CPJ raises alarm over disappearances

CPJ said the continued disappearance of Tahir and Saif has heightened concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Pakistan. The organization urged the authorities to clarify the journalists' legal status and ensure that any detention complies with the law.

The statement came amid growing scrutiny of restrictions affecting journalists and media coverage related to developments in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. While CPJ welcomed Raja Ikram's reported release, the organization stressed that the cases of Tahir and Saif remain unresolved.

Separately, CPJ said it had received unconfirmed reports that access to Al Jazeera's website had been restricted in Pakistan after the broadcaster reported from Kashmir on August 1. The organization did not state that it had independently verified the reported restrictions.

Questions over media access

The reported access issues followed public criticism of Al Jazeera by Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which accused the broadcaster of engaging in "yellow journalism" over its coverage of elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

JournalismPakistan verified on August 3 that Al Jazeera's website was inaccessible from Pakistan during testing. However, the reason for the inaccessibility could not be independently determined, and no official order confirming a restriction has been made public.

Media reports have also indicated that a partial internet blackout and severe telecommunications restrictions have remained in effect across parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir since June 5, disrupting communications during weeks of political unrest and ahead of the region's elections. Residents, businesses and educational institutions have reported significant disruption, although authorities have disputed the extent of the restrictions in some areas.

Press freedom organizations have repeatedly expressed concern over the use of detentions, communication restrictions and other measures that they say hinder journalists' ability to report freely on events in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and elsewhere in the country.

ATTRIBUTION: Based on public statements issued by the Committee to Protect Journalists on August 3 and other publicly available reporting. JournalismPakistan verified that Al Jazeera's website was inaccessible from Pakistan on August 3 but has not independently verified the reported disappearances.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.