Threats against journalists in Pakistan rose to 22 documented cases in the second quarter of 2026, up 22 percent from 18 cases in the first quarter, according to a quarterly threat assessment released by media watchdog Freedom Network.

Punjab recorded the highest number of cases with 15, up from eight in the first quarter, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's cases fell from five to three. Sindh and Balochistan each recorded one case in the second quarter, matching their first-quarter tallies, while Islamabad Capital Territory and Gilgit-Baltistan each documented one case. No verified incidents were reported from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The documented violations included actual legal action (six cases), threat of legal action (four cases), arrest (three cases), along with other categories of harassment and intimidation. According to the review, state actors were identified as the principal threat in 15 of the 22 cases, accounting for 68 percent of documented incidents, underscoring the growing use of legal and administrative measures to restrict press freedom.

The report identified the persistent use of legal frameworks and state institutions to investigate, prosecute and intimidate journalists as the most significant trend of the quarter, noting that journalists covering digital platforms, governance and corruption were among the most vulnerable.

Freedom Network compiles its quarterly assessments through the Pakistan Press Club Safety Hubs Network, a monitoring program it has run since 2016 in collaboration with major press clubs across the country, including Quetta.

Based on a report by Freedom Network Pakistan (FNPK).