JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 27, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the decisions by the Pakistani authorities to take down all television news channels and block access to some social media platforms on November 25 following a demonstration in Islamabad.
The IFJ urged Pakistan to ensure the right of citizens to access information is respected.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on November 25 issued a directive prohibiting live coverage of the operation to end the Faizabad sit-in protest.
The PEMRA directive was issued under the Electronic Media (Programs and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015, ordering the channels to refrain from covering the security forces’ operation on the protest. Following the directive, most news channels were taken off-air in Islamabad and other parts of the country, displaying the message: "This channel is suspended on orders of PEMRA”, according to reports.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) also directed the blocking of Facebook, YouTube, DailyMotion, Twitter and Instagram in some parts of the country on the Interior Ministry's orders while internet services in Faizabad, Rawalpindi where the protests were happening, were also suspended.
The directives stood for nearly 28 hours after they were withdrawn on November 26.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the action on television and termed November 25 as ‘Black Day’ for shutting down the news channels by the government-run PEMRA.
Bytes for All, Pakistan (B4A) expressed concerns over the complete information blackout and demanded the government to immediately restore unfettered access to the internet, social media platforms, media channels and mobile services. The Digital Rights Foundation demanded the suspension of the blanket and nation-wide ban on social media and channels of communication, as it does not serve the principles of freedom of expression.
The IFJ said: "The blocking of social media platforms and coverage of news events violates the people’s right to know and access to information. The censorship of information is against the principles of freedom of expression and the press, which only works to weaken democracy. We call on the Pakistani government to end the practice of blocking media and the internet during news events, and guarantee the people’s access to information at all times.” – IFJ media release
March 26, 2025: Karachi journalist Farhan Mallick has been remanded to FIA custody for five days in a new fraud case. The FIA alleges his involvement in a call center scam defrauding foreign nationals.
March 26, 2025: A district court in Islamabad granted the FIA a two-day physical remand of journalist Waheed Murad. He was arrested under the PECA Act for sharing a report by exiled journalist Ahmad Noorani on social media. His arrest involved armed men in black uniforms, according to his family.
March 25, 2025: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has promised to name a journalism department in an educational institution after slain journalist Arshad Sharif. This follows a suggestion by analyst Ather Kazmi during an interview.
March 25, 2025: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the arrest of Karachi journalist Farhan Mallick, founder of Raftar, demanding his immediate release. The PFUJ has also denounced the case, calling it an attack on press freedom in Pakistan.
March 24, 2025: Who will be responsible if my sons are harmed?" cries a mother in Islamabad High Court, pleading for justice after her sons' alleged abduction. The court summons the IG police over the alleged kidnapping. The family claims intelligence agencies are involved.
March 24, 2025: Explore the 10 critical reasons why Pakistan's legacy media continues to disappoint, from political bias and corporate influence to digital transition failures and unsustainable business models in Pakistani journalism.
March 22, 2025: The arrest of journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick under PECA violations has sparked concerns over press freedom in Pakistan. Digital rights activists warn of increasing state suppression.
March 21, 2025: Geo Group’s security guards allegedly led an assault on protesting journalists in Islamabad, dismantling their camp and threatening them. The hypocrisy of a media giant advocating press freedom while suppressing its workers is exposed.
March 25, 2025 Turkish authorities must release detained journalists covering protests and end press crackdowns. CPJ condemns police violence and home raids targeting media workers.
March 23, 2025 The severed pig’s head sent to Indonesia’s leading news outlet, Tempo, signals escalating media intimidation amid President Prabowo Subianto’s attacks on foreign-funded media.
March 19, 2025 Apply for the NYU Stern Climate Economics Journalism Fellowship to deepen your understanding of climate economics and its impact on global finance. Applications close on April 20, 2025.
March 16, 2025 The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 15, 2025 Explore the dynamic relationship between athletes and sports journalists, examining the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and mutual benefits that shape the sports media landscape.