PFUJ demands an end to censorship, layoffs, and draconian laws in landmark declaration

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 4 months ago |  JP Staff Report

KARACHI—As the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) marks 75 years of an unyielding struggle for press freedom, its Federal Executive Council (FEC) concluded a three-day meeting in Karachi with a forceful declaration to resist growing authoritarian control over the media.

Chaired by PFUJ President Afzal Butt, the FEC's platinum jubilee session (August 1–3) delivered an unambiguous message: the media is under siege, and urgent corrective action is needed.

The Karachi Declaration 2025 outlines a roadmap for protecting journalists, preserving constitutional freedoms, and safeguarding the nation’s democratic fabric.

The PFUJ called out federal and provincial governments for intensifying repression against independent media, warning that such tactics are not only unconstitutional but severely damaging to Pakistan’s global standing.

"The proposed amendments to PECA 2025 and the Punjab Defamation Bill 2024 are uncalled for, anti-media, and designed to suppress voices. They reflect an authoritarian mindset."

Urgent Demands of the PFUJ Karachi Declaration:

• Immediate withdrawal of the draconian PECA 2025 and the Punjab Defamation Law 2024.
• An end to mass retrenchments in both print and electronic media.
• Protection of journalists’ safety and rights, including action against perpetrators of violence.
• A stop to the systemic censorship and silencing of dissenting voices.

The FEC condemned the targeting of journalists through arbitrary detentions, threats, and fabricated charges. It demanded that the digital rights of citizens be safeguarded and that media professionals be allowed to work without intimidation from state or non-state actors.

The Council also demanded that judicial independence be respected, urging authorities not to manipulate courts for political gain.

PFUJ strongly opposed the wave of forced layoffs across media houses and demanded immediate intervention by media owners and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It reiterated the long-standing demand for the full implementation of the 8th Wage Board Award, and called for a structured career and pay framework for journalists across traditional and digital platforms.

With journalists increasingly under physical threat, the FEC demanded swift arrests and convictions of those involved in assaults or killings of media personnel.

"We will not tolerate any attempts to curtail freedom of expression and free speech. PFUJ stands firm in its commitment to a free and independent press."

The Karachi Declaration is a rallying cry, not only for journalists but for all defenders of democratic freedoms. It holds both the government and media proprietors accountable for the protection and promotion of press freedom in Pakistan.

Photo caption: A reception hosted by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah (left) in honor of PFUJ’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) members. Prominent attendees included PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (center), Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Ministers Sharjeel Memon, Saeed Ghani, Nasir Shah, Shazia Marri, PFUJ President Afzal Butt (right), Secretary General Arshad Ansari, Treasurer Lala Asad Pathan, former Secretary General Mazhar Abbas, and other leaders.