Overview
- The Committee to Protect Journalists and 17 partner organisations sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on February 25–26 calling for urgent steps to safeguard press freedom.
- The groups pressed for repeal or substantial amendment of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, including 2025 changes, citing its use for arbitrary cases against journalists and digital outlets.
- They demanded the immediate release of journalist Sohrab Barkat, held for more than 90 days under PECA despite being granted bail by the Supreme Court.
- Signatories urged an independent judicial commission to reopen a transparent probe into Arshad Sharif’s 2022 killing after the Federal Constitutional Court ended suo motu proceedings, noting the court said Pakistan and Kenya were already handling the matter.
- The letter also called for an end to harassment and overseas prosecutions of Pakistani journalists, protection from deportation for at-risk Afghan media workers, and adherence to ICCPR and non-refoulement obligations.