South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, is deeply concerned by the sudden removal of Spot Light with Munizae Jahangir from Aaj News. Veteran journalist Munizae Jahangir has hosted the programme for the past 11 years, reporting from across Pakistan, including conflict zones and other sensitive areas, while bringing independent, ground-level reporting and informed public discourse to viewers. SAHR views this development arises amid the rapidly shrinking space for media freedom and the continuing restrictions on freedom of expression in Pakistan. The abrupt removal of a long-running current affairs programme hosted by one of the country’s most respected journalists raises serious concerns regarding editorial independence, the ability of journalists to report freely, and the broader state of democratic freedoms. It is also critical to note that, over the past 3 years, several journalists have been forcibly removed from mainstream broadcast platforms, with Ms. Jahangir being the latest to be taken off air.
SAHR has observed with grave concern the persistent and escalating efforts to stifle press freedom and freedom of expression in Pakistan. The Freedom Network has reported 22 cases of intimidation against journalists across Pakistan between April and June 2026. Of these, the highest number of 15 incidents were reported from Punjab. In addition, three cases were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while one incident each was reported from Sindh, Balochistan, the Islamabad Capital Territory, and Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan. The documented acts of intimidation include legal action and threats of legal action, arbitrary arrest, threats of physical harm and murder, physical assault resulting in injury, attempted murder, kidnapping, and editorial interference. The prevalence and severity of these violations underscore the increasingly hostile and restrictive environment faced by journalists in Pakistan and the growing threats to media freedom and freedom of expression.
The controversial amendments introduced in 2025 to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), a draconian law originally enacted in 2016, have further entrenched restrictions on freedom of expression by expanding the state’s ability to suppress critical voices and dissent. Rather than addressing genuine concerns relating to online safety, these amendments risk being used to silence journalists, human rights defenders, and political critics. Such measures constitute a blatant infringement of the right to freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive, and impart information. They also undermine the public’s right to information, creating an environment conducive to censorship, opacity, and the spread of disinformation. In a representative democracy, the protection of dissent is indispensable; efforts to suppress critical voices erode democratic governance, accountability, and the rule of law.
SAHR, together with the civil society and human rights community in Pakistan, calls upon the Government to uphold the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan, including the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and an independent and pluralistic media. SAHR urges the Government and all relevant authorities to take immediate steps to foster a safe, enabling, and independent environment in which journalists and media professionals can carry out their work freely, impartially, and with dignity, without fear of intimidation, harassment, censorship, arbitrary legal action, or violence. The Government of Pakistan has both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights to freedom of expression and access to information. The Government must demonstrate its commitment to these obligations by reversing measures that unduly restrict civic space, ensuring accountability for attacks and intimidation against journalists, and safeguarding the independence of the media. A free press is an indispensable pillar of any democratic society, and it serves as a vital safeguard for transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights.
On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights
Dr. Roshmi Goswami
Co-Chairperson
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu
Bureau Member