Punjab records highest journalist threats in March 2026

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 April 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Pakistan Press Club Safety Hubs Network data show Punjab recorded five threats against journalists in March 2026, highest among provinces. Cases involved arrests and an FIR, informal detention, and alleged physical assaults in print, TV and digital.

Summary

ISLAMABAD —Punjab emerged as the province with the highest number of threats against journalists in March 2026, according to data collected through the Pakistan Press Club Safety Hubs Network under Freedom Network. Five incidents affecting reporters across print, television, and digital media were recorded, ranging from detention and legal action to physical assault.

Legal action targets Daily Khabrain correspondents

Journalist Arshad Sanga, a special correspondent for Daily Khabrain in Kabirwala, faced arrest on 20 March after publishing a report linking six child deaths to measles in the district. Authorities later filed an FIR against him, citing unrelated fuel violations, prompting concerns that the charges were retaliatory. Three days later, another Daily Khabrain journalist, Qaisar Ejaz Toba Sial, was arrested under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act after posting a viral video showing an intoxicated individual driving a government police van in Khanewal district.

Informal detention and intimidation in Balochistan

In Quetta, digital media reporter Maqbool Ahmed Jaffar was picked up by unidentified individuals on 8 March and held for two to three hours without formal charges. He reported being questioned about his reporting and warned to exercise caution, highlighting concerns over informal coercive measures against journalists in the province.

Physical assaults raise safety concerns

Senior journalist Qazi Abdul Rauf in Landikotal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was allegedly assaulted by Counter-Terrorism Department officials on 13 March, sustaining injuries and damage to his vehicle estimated at PKR 400,000. In Punjab’s Vehari district, reporter Farukh Shehzad was manhandled by Wildlife Department officials over a story on zoo parking fees; authorities suspended the officials and initiated departmental proceedings following pressure from the local journalist community.

State authorities implicated in all cases

All five reported incidents involved state authorities as the main actors, according to Freedom Network data, underscoring ongoing risks for journalists covering public health, governance, and local accountability issues in Pakistan.

WHY THIS MATTERS: For Pakistani journalists, these incidents underscore the persistent threats from both legal and physical pressures while performing professional duties. Media organizations must strengthen safety protocols, advocate for fair legal processes, and remain vigilant against informal or retaliatory actions that can undermine press freedom and public interest reporting.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on a publicly available report from Freedom Network (April 2026).

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only