ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday pledged that his government would take concrete steps to ensure effective investigation, justice, and prosecution in cases involving crimes against journalists, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to press freedom and journalist safety.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, observed annually on November 2, the prime minister said that protecting journalists and ensuring accountability for attacks against them was essential for a democratic society.
“Today reminds us that a free, informed, and responsible press is the foundation of any democratic society,” Shehbaz said. “Violence, threats, or reprisals against journalists while performing their duties are attacks on freedom of expression.”
He paid tribute to media professionals who had faced hardship or lost their lives while pursuing the truth, extending solidarity to their families. The prime minister stressed that the government would take measures to improve investigation and prosecution processes to prevent impunity. “A free press guarantees a strong, transparent, and democratic Pakistan,” he added, urging international organisations and civil society to contribute to efforts that protect journalists.
“Journalists enable public access to facts and are torchbearers of truth. Violence, threats, or reprisals against them while performing their duties are attacks on freedom of expression,” PM Shehbaz said.https://t.co/DVVn92GjEO
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 2, 2025
Pakistan continues to be classified among the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the country ranked 158th out of 180, reflecting persistent challenges including threats, harassment, and limited accountability for perpetrators of violence against media workers.
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A day earlier, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed alarm over what it described as a worsening environment for journalists in Pakistan. In a meeting with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in Paris, IFJ leaders raised concerns about targeted killings, the misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), censorship, and financial insecurity faced by media employees.
The IFJ delegation urged Pakistan’s leadership to act swiftly to address these issues, warning that continued inaction could compel the organisation to seek UN intervention.
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