In Islamabad, journalists, critics, and digital rights advocates have voiced strong opposition to what they describe as restrictions on accessing the Al Jazeera English website in certain areas of Pakistan. These measures reportedly followed the broadcaster’s coverage of election-related disturbances and a security crackdown in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Despite no official announcement from the federal government regarding a ban on the Doha-based news outlet, social media users, opposition leaders, and journalists noted that the website became unreachable in some parts of the country after Al Jazeera released reports from Muzaffarabad concerning the ongoing elections and unrest in AJK.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused Al Jazeera of biased coverage of the AJK elections. The ministry stated on X that the broadcaster engaged in “selective reporting” at polling stations in Muzaffarabad, thereby misrepresenting the electoral process. The ministry described this coverage as “yellow journalism” aimed at advancing the interests of external entities attempting to destabilize the election.
The ministry’s remarks sparked backlash from journalists and media freedom advocates. An correspondent, Shrouq, criticized the state’s tendency to label any unfavorable reporting as “yellow journalism.”
Digital rights activist Usama Khilji condemned the alleged blocking of the Al Jazeera English website in Pakistan and urged authorities to protect press freedom. He also highlighted that new restrictions on foreign correspondents further threaten media independence.
Pakistani officials have not publicly admitted to restricting access to the broadcaster’s site. Sohaib Khan, former deputy general secretary of the JKLF AJK-GB Zone, argued that limiting independent media coverage would not hide the realities on the ground.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faiza Murad accused the government of tightening reporting controls on foreign journalists following Al Jazeera’s coverage. She noted that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reminded foreign reporters that, under the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, prior No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are mandatory for reporting outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
These reported restrictions emerge amid weeks of unrest in AJK, where protests led by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have escalated into violent clashes with security forces. The demonstrations began with demands for political rights, economic reforms, reduced prices for essential goods, and enhanced institutional accountability. They have since expanded to calls for the removal of reserved seats for refugees in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
The unrest has involved road blockades, internet shutdowns, and repeated confrontations between protesters and security personnel throughout AJK. Protest leaders claim that dozens have died and hundreds have been injured during the violence, though Pakistani and AJK authorities have not confirmed these figures, and independent verification remains unavailable.
