On August 9, widespread internet outages caused significant disruptions across multiple cities in Pakistan, leaving social media users struggling with connectivity issues. Speculation arose that the outages were linked to a government-installed firewall, though the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) denied these claims. A senior PTA official confirmed that the outages triggered queries, but the cause […]

On June 23, 2024, Benazir Shah, the editor of ‘Geo Fact Check,’ found her X account, formerly Twitter, compromised following her comments on a blasphemy case. The cyber attack spiraled into severe online harassment instigated by followers of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Shah endured a distressing invasion of privacy as hackers altered her profile image […]

On June 13, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari assured journalists that the newly introduced defamation law would not impact their work. She clarified that the legislation is aimed at social media influencers who spread misinformation for financial gain. Bukhari also announced the allocation of a one billion rupees budget for healthcare of the journalists’ community. […]

The federal government, in a bid to uphold the integrity and security of the electoral process, has announced the temporary suspension of cellular services in specific districts of Punjab and Balochistan during the by-elections scheduled for April 21 and 22. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed in a statement issued on April 20 that, upon directives from […]

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) welcomes journalist and YouTuber Asad Ali Toor’s release from jail after his bail was approved on March 16. We urge authorities to safeguard the rights of journalists protected under the law instead of harassing them through the issuance of notices, arrests, and investigations. Toor’s arrest on the grounds of an investigation […]

Human rights activists and civil society organizations have demanded the immediate restoration of X, formerly known as Twitter, in a joint statement. They expressed grave concerns about the escalating occurrences of internet shutdowns and the blocking of social media platforms. The joint statement issued on March 13 highlights the urgent need for the restoration of access to X, emphasizing […]

Human rights activists and civil society organizations have demanded the immediate restoration of X, formerly known as Twitter, in a joint statement. They expressed grave concerns about the escalating occurrences of internet shutdowns and the blocking of social media platforms. The joint statement issued on March 13 highlights the urgent need for the restoration of access to X, emphasizing […]