JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 25, 2014
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD: Pakistan remains among countries where no progress on the freedom of press was witnessed during 2013, according to Freedom House.
The Freedom of the Press 2014, the latest edition of Freedom House’s annual assessment of media freedom, will be released on May 1. The event in Washington will feature a panel discussion on the advances and setbacks in press freedom worldwide.
In an interview with VOA, Karin Karelekar (pictured), Freedom of the Press project director, said Pakistan will continue to be part of the list of countries where “press is not free”. According to her, attacks on journalists continue with impunity as attackers are not nabbed and punished. “That is why there has been an increase in self censorship.”
The VOA report says according to the government, there is no bar on freedom of press in Pakistan and every effort is being made to protect journalists. The report said media houses and owners also have a responsibility to make journalism safe in Pakistan.
Karelekar added traditional measures have been used to attack and harass journalists throughout the world. “If this leads to more self censorship, the perpetrators have no fear of any action, punishment.”
Overall the picture of freedom of press worldwide is negative, says Karelaker. “In some important countries, the situation is bad. Journalists covering wars and armed conflicts have been attacked or harassed.”
The report says 88 or 45% of the countries have press freedom, 59 or 30% have partial freedom and 48 or 25% lack freedom of press.
She said as social media and internet are changing the practicing of journalism, efforts have also been made by governments to control or ban these avenues. Individually, she added, journalists need to be careful from the state and non-state actors for their own security.
Photo courtesy: VOA
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.