Islamabad: Media reports claim that Pakistan has restricted access to popular Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera after the media house extensively covered the ongoing protests and election-related tensions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
However, the officials have not announced any official ban or restriction on the media outlet, but several users online reported that Al Jazeera’s website is not accessible inside Pakistan soon after it’s reporting from the PoK.
Social activists and opposition leaders said that this step of Pakistan’s government raises questions over press freedom. Pakistan has increasingly tightened control over critical journalism under the hybrid regime led by Army Chief Asim Munir. During the ongoing protest in PoK, around 80 civilian have lost their lives.
Multiple Pakistani and international media outlets, including Al Jazeera, presented on-ground report from PoK. For the last few days, Kamal Hyder, the Al Jazeera correspondent in Pakistan, reported from Muzaffarabad. In one of his reports, he noted the low turnout in the PoK polls was a result of the people showing “solidarity with the protests in the region.”
Al-Jazeera blocked in Pakistan?
Sohaib Khan, former Deputy General Secretary of JKLF AJK-GB Zone, claimed earlier that Al Jazeera was blocked in the region. He wrote on X that “Just confirmed from Islamabad: The AJEnglish website has been restricted in Pakistan following its coverage of recent events” in the POK.
He further added, Silencing independent media will not hide the truth.
However, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the Ministry of Information, or any other official authority has not confirmed it.