Digital monitoring report on trends relating to the state of journalism and media rights, policies and practices.
Vol. 6, No. 9 – SEPTEMBER 2026 Edition
Produced by Freedom Network – www.fnpk.org
SECTION 1: Media related laws, policies, regulations, mechanisms
NA speaker’s ruling on employee records cannot restrict citizen’s right to information, PIC rules
Date: September 6, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Pakistan Information Commission ruled that the National Assembly speaker’s decision to classify certain employee records could not restrict citizens’ right to information unless the ruling provided reasons demonstrating that the harm from disclosure outweighed the public interest. The ruling came on appeals filed by journalist Saddia Mazhar seeking information about officers deputed to the National Assembly Secretariat, including their grades, appointment dates and promotions.
Nine rights groups urge PM to address deteriorating press freedom
Date: September 11, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Nine press freedom and human rights organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, CIVICUS, the International Federation for Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the International Press Institute, Freedom Network, BoloBhi and Rural Media Network Pakistan, urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action over concerns about Pakistan’s press freedom environment. The organisations raised concerns over detentions, criminal investigations, restrictions on reporting and other pressures affecting journalists.
Senate panel questions National Press Trust’s relevance after newspaper privatisation
Date: September 19, 2026 – Source: The News
The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting questioned the continued relevance and functioning of the National Press Trust following the privatisation of its newspapers. The committee sought details about the Trust’s property and funds and directed that its legal framework be reviewed, including provisions concerning the welfare of media workers.
Transparency report finds weak implementation of RTI laws
Date: September 25, 2026 – Source: The News
Transparency International Pakistan found weak implementation of right to information laws by federal and provincial departments. Its assessment of 98 government ministries and departments examined compliance with proactive disclosure requirements under the federal and provincial RTI laws.
PIC seeks RTI implementation reports from Punjab’s deputy commissioners
Date: September 25, 2026 – Source: The News
The Punjab Information Commission sought annual RTI implementation reports from deputy commissioners across the province as part of efforts to assess compliance with right to information requirements.
SECTION 2: The state of media professionalisms
Senior journalist Shahzada Irfan Ahmed passes away
Date: September 21, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Senior journalist Shahzada Irfan Ahmed, associated with The News, died in Lahore at the age of 56. He had worked with The News International since at least 2003 and covered areas including economy, health, human rights, law, social issues, information technology, security, labour, climate and migration. He was also the 2009 Daniel Pearl Fellow.
Mardan journalists raise organisational and membership concerns
Date: September 23, 2026 – Source: The News
A delegation of the Mardan Union of Journalists met the Director General of Information and Public Relations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and raised concerns about internal disputes within journalists’ organisations. The delegation alleged that memberships of some journalists had been terminated in violation of organisational procedures and that certain journalists had been denied membership despite court orders.
PECA complaint follows routine traffic reporting by Lahore journalist
Date: September 24, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
A Lahore Rang TV reporter, Muhammad Awais, faced a complaint before the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency after producing a report about traffic violations. The complaint alleged that people were recorded without consent and that the video caused reputational harm. The complaint remained under consideration and did not constitute a finding of guilt.
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation joins Asia-Pacific Media Partnership
September 5, 2026 – Radio Pakistan
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation was selected as one of 16 founding members of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Organizing Committee. The partnership covers media cooperation, technological innovation, content exchange, professional training, newsroom modernisation and responsible use of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.
SECTION 3: The state of media economy
BOL News reportedly removes Absa Komal after protest speech
Date: September 16, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
BOL News reportedly removed anchor Absa Komal from air or dismissed her after she spoke at a Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists hunger strike camp about delayed and unpaid salaries and working conditions in media organisations. BOL News and Komal had not formally confirmed a termination at the time of reporting.
Journalists in Punjab increasingly rely on second jobs amid low newsroom pay
Date: September 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
Reporting on district journalism in Punjab highlighted how some journalists are taking second jobs, including running shops, tuition centres and other small businesses, to supplement newsroom income. The report linked the trend to insufficient newsroom pay.
PIO assures newspaper industry of issues’ resolution
September 30, 2026 – The News
Principal Information Officer Raisa Adil met members of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society in Karachi. The newspaper industry raised issues including implementation of the prime minister’s commitment to increase government advertising rates for print media.
Standing Committee seeks details on unpaid media workers’ salaries
September 3, 2026 – National Assembly
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting expressed concern over continued non-payment and delayed payment of salaries to media workers and sought comprehensive details of pending salaries and other financial dues against media organisations.
SECTION 4: Threats and attacks against media and information practitioners, including online
Ahmad Farhad released after nearly 75 days in detention
Date: September 2, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
Kashmiri journalist and poet Ahmad Farhad was released after nearly 75 days in administrative detention in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. His wife announced his release on September 1. Farhad had been detained after covering a protest in Rawalakot.
Journalist Bilal Ghauri reported missing in Islamabad
Date: September 6, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
Journalist and YouTube commentator Muhammad Bilal Ghauri was reported missing from his ground-floor office in Islamabad’s E-11/4 area around 2am on September 6. His family reported finding his wallet and glasses in the office while his mobile phone was switched off.
Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif released after 40-day detention
Date: September 10, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
Independent journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif were released from Attock Jail after spending 40 days in custody. A video posted by journalist Harmeet Singh on September 9 confirmed their release.
Nine organizations raise concerns over detention and legal pressure on journalists
Date: September 11, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Nine press freedom and human rights organisations called for action over concerns about Pakistan’s press freedom environment. Their concerns included journalist disappearances and detentions, criminal investigations, restrictions on reporting, use of PECA and NCCIA investigations, and other administrative and legal measures affecting media work.
Bilal Ghauri granted bail in PECA case
Date: September 17, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
Journalist Bilal Ghauri was granted bail in a PECA-related case after being taken into custody earlier in September. The case followed earlier reports of his disappearance from his Islamabad office and subsequent legal proceedings.
Journalist allegedly assaulted in Balochistan
Date: September 20, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the alleged assault on senior Balochistan journalist Naseer Ahmed Kakar and called for legal action. According to press groups cited in the report, Kakar was identified as the bureau chief of the UNA News Agency and police reportedly registered a case.
PECA complaint places routine journalism under legal pressure
Date: September 24, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan
A complaint against Lahore Rang TV reporter Muhammad Awais over a traffic report brought routine journalism into the cybercrime investigation process. The complaint was submitted to the NCCIA under PECA and other laws, although no finding of criminal liability had been made.
Three Chakwal journalists summoned by NCCIA over reporting
September 22, 2026 – Journalism Pakistan
Three journalists covering a dispute at a government college in Chakwal were summoned by the NCCIA following a complaint alleging fabricated and baseless claims in their reporting. The journalists said their reports were supported by documentary records.
