By Hafiz ullah sherani :
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the notice issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to Dawn News reporter Akbar Notezai, describing it as a severe attack on press freedom. PFUJ President Afzal Butt and General Secretary Irshad Ansari criticized the notice in a joint statement from Quetta on August 7, 2025, calling it a dangerous tactic to suppress critical journalism and highlighting the growing climate of fear and intimidation faced by journalists in Pakistan.
In a related incident, young journalist and CEO of Gaddaroshia Point, Sarfraz Shah, was arrested by police during a raid in the Isa Nagri area of Quetta but was later released on bail. The PFUJ leadership emphasized that the misuse of cybercrime laws to target journalists violates Pakistan’s constitutional right to freedom of expression, fostering an atmosphere of fear that undermines media freedom.
PFUJ demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FIA notice against Akbar Noorzai and urged the government to halt the misuse of cybercrime laws against media personnel, insisting that journalists be allowed to carry out their duties without fear or interference. The union also expressed solidarity with Noorzai and Dawn News, calling on authorities to ensure a safe and supportive environment for the press and to take concrete steps to protect journalists’ rights so that media professionals are not penalized for fulfilling their public responsibilities.
These incidents have heightened concerns among press freedom advocates that Pakistan’s cybercrime legislation is increasingly being used to stifle independent journalism.
This summary is based on the reported events and statements from PFUJ leadership as of August 7, 2025. There were no contradictory sources found, and the information aligns with common assessments of the press freedom challenges in Pakistan.
