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When something produces a foul smell, or when a rat dies, we usually bury it or cover it with a cloth to hide the unpleasant sight and smell. When people do something dirty or immoral, they often try to ensure that no one sees it and may even attempt to erase the evidence. This is part of human nature: to hide what we do not want others to see. This is what Pakistan has been practicing for decades and, trying to cover up its dirty deeds and prevent the world from seeing the reality and that is what Pakistan has done very recently. Not dwelling on the distant past, let us focus on the present and shed some light on what is happening today.
PoJK has been burning for months and has been subjected to what have been described as brutal human rights abuses by Pakistan. Reports of multiple deaths, arrests, detentions, intimidation, torture, and the indiscriminate use of force by Pakistani authorities have dominated the headlines. Polling is currently underway in PoJK across three phases. The elections, which were initially scheduled to take place in single phase, were rescheduled in three phases due to the ongoing turmoil in PoJK. Very low voter turnout was reported on polling day. Al Jazeera covered the protests, unrest, and election-day violence extensively. The broadcaster reported that 20 protesters were killed after Pakistani forces opened fire and used tear gas against protesters in PoJK, while unverified sources have claimed that the actual number could be as high as 80. As the reports became public, they created widespread concern and sent shockwaves around the world, and understandably so. Pakistan was quick to respond, issuing a formal statement criticizing the broadcaster for what it described as selective reporting and accusing Al Jazeera of engaging in “yellow journalism. And was completely banned in Pakistan. For the first time in my life, I have seen such a blatant statement coming from an official ministry. While Pakistan’s authorities heavily criticized Al Jazeera and accused it of selective reporting and “yellow journalism,” the statement did not mention PoJK even once, let alone acknowledge the reported deaths and violence there. Well, the situation during the second phase of polling on 2 August was no different. Although the exact figures for deaths, voter turnout, and violent clashes remain unverified as of now, the third and final phase is scheduled for 10 August. It is unlikely to be any different, as the region remains affected by severe protests, civil unrest, a crackdown, and communication blackout. Moreover, there have also been reports of alleged election rigging in PoJK, although these claims remain unverified.
After facing global backlash, Pakistan could no longer keep its feet on the ground as its so-called drama of “Azad Kashmir” was exposed to the world. Pakistan felt a dire need to cover up the foul smell of its dirty work in PoJK, which it has turned into a hell. It therefore came up with a new set of guidelines called the “Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026.” The name sounds fancy, almost like a welcome treat for the media, especially for foreign journalists and their associates operating in Pakistan.
The new guidelines require international and Pakistani journalists who contribute to foreign media organizations, including social media and web-based platforms, to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the information ministry for official assignments, especially for work outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Authorities can suspend or revoke journalists’ accreditation or media outlets’ for “acts against the ideology, sovereignty, security or public order of Pakistan,” the guidelines say. The guidelines also require all foreign media outlets and those who work with them from sources to local fixers to register with and obtain separate media accreditation from the information ministry. Foreign journalists visiting the northeastern cities of Abbottabad or Murree, which is close to the border with Kashmir, for “leisure purposes” are required to obtain an NOC as well.
Journalists who reported the PoJK unrest were detained, Journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah began a hunger strike on July 28 after being detained for more than a month without charge, while the whereabouts of journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif are unknown since police detained them on August 1. All three had covered the unrest, CPJ reports.
Now the question is: why is Pakistan doing this? Simply to cover up its brutality in PoJK, so that the world does not see how inhumane it can get, and so that its so-called “Azad Kashmir” narrative of autonomy, self-rule, and being the guardian of Kashmiris does not get exposed. But Pakistan has already gone too far, and the truth cannot be buried forever. It wants the world to look away from the blood-stained roads of PoJK, from the grieving mothers and sisters, and from the pain of school-going children caught in the turmoil. It wants to silence the journalists who could expose what is happening on the ground, control the narrative before the truth reaches the world, and ultimately bury the reality of its actions in PoJK beneath a wall of censorship.
The new guidelines are aimed at restricting press freedom, exposing journalists to administrative retaliation and creating an environment of fear around independent reporting. At their core, they appear designed to silence dissent so that the cries of PoJK do not reach the outside world. This is an opportunity for international organizations to intervene and prevent Pakistan from strangling journalism and impartial reporting. Such restrictions risk creating an information blackout that could allow further abuses in PoJK to go unnoticed, while making it harder for people to demand their basic rights and hold those in power accountable.
furkaankashmiri@gmail.com
