Section 04 · Prosecution
From the newsroom to the courtroom
Not every attack is physical. Criminal cases, arrests and summons keep journalists tied up in court and send a warning to everyone else.
PECA 2016 & 2025 amendments
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act criminalises 'false' or 'fake' information online. Critics say its vague wording is used to arrest reporters and YouTubers.
Sedition (Section 124-A)
Long used against critics; the Lahore High Court struck it down in 2023, though other anti-state provisions remain.
Anti-terrorism & defamation laws
Terrorism charges and criminal defamation are filed alongside or instead of cybercrime cases, multiplying court appearances across cities.
Notable cases
| Journalist | Year | Charges | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arshad Sharif | 2022 | Sedition and anti-state charges | Multiple cases registered across the country before he left Pakistan; he was later killed in Kenya. |
| Imran Riaz Khan | 2022 | Multiple FIRs; later held without charge | Arrested over remarks about state institutions; went missing for months in 2023. |
| Asad Ali Toor | 2024 | PECA (cybercrime law) | Detained by the FIA over posts critical of the judiciary; released on bail. |
| Matiullah Jan | 2024 | Narcotics & anti-terrorism charges | Arrested days after reporting on deaths during a protest crackdown; widely called retaliatory. |
| Farhan Mallick | 2025 | PECA | Founder of digital outlet Raftar arrested by the FIA over online content. |