PM urged to address press freedom concerns

Nine press freedom and human rights organisations, including international bodies, have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action to address "a rapidly deteriorating press freedom climate" in Pakistan, which they said, has eroded "the ability of Pakistani journalists to report freely and safely". The organisations said it was "alarming" to see the growing use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (Peca), and investigations by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) against journalists for reporting on matters of public interest.