Rights groups slam Pakistan govt for ‘deeply irresponsible’ smear campaign against media, NGOs
Human rights groups in Pakistan are hitting back hard at the government over a controversial ad campaign that paints journalists and NGOs as tools of enemy propaganda. Advocacy organizations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Women’s Action Forum in Lahore, Shirkat Gah Women’s Research Centre, South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, feminist group Simorgh, and the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), issued a joint statement blasting the move as “deeply irresponsible.”
The ad, sponsored by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urges people to spot and report “suspicious” media workers, NGO staff, and freelance researchers. Critics say it wrongly frames these folks as threats to national security, stirring up fear and suspicion in a country where free speech already faces big hurdles.
“Labeling civil society and independent media as part of an information war hurts the freedoms that keep democracy alive,” the groups said in their statement. They point out that journalists and NGOs in Pakistan deal with constant challenges: harassment, tough registration rules, funding checks, and a tense atmosphere fueled by vague security claims. This latest campaign, they warn, could lead to more surveillance, threats, and even violence against those fighting for rights and sharing news with the public.
The statement highlights the dangers of encouraging citizens to report anyone “suspicious” without clear legal protections. It could spark unfair targeting, bullying, and censorship, making life even harder for human rights defenders.
On top of that, the ad’s portrayal of digital tools as traps for spreading unrest and chaos piles on the pressure from laws like Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. “This will scare off independent journalism and block key humanitarian and rights work that many NGOs do,” the groups added.
They demand that the Pakistani government pull the campaign right away, stop mixing up real civil society efforts with enemy actions, and create a safer space for journalists and human rights organizations to operate freely across the country.
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