President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed the government’s resolve to protect press freedom and stressed the importance of credible journalism.

They issued separate messages on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, reaffirming that Pakistan, as a state, remained firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting freedom of the press.

In his message, President Zardari said this year’s theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace”, underscored that peace cannot be secured without truth.

Noting that Article 19 of the Constitution guaranteed the right to press freedom subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law, the president said, “A free, independent and diverse media is not a threat to a confident nation, rather a proof of one.”

“At the same time, freedom brings responsibility. Accuracy must not be sacrificed for speed and balance must not give way to partisanship. Public trust, the most valuable asset of free press, must be earned, protected and never taken for granted,” he remarked.

President Zardari added, “We face a moment of particular urgency. Deliberate campaigns of falsehood targeting Pakistan seek to sow division and weaken our national cohesion.”

He hailed the Pakistani media for “standing firm like a wall against the wave of disinformation” during the conflict with India last year.

“It responded not with force, but with facts. Not with noise, but with clarity. A nation that aspires to be a trusted voice in the world needs a credible information environment at home.”

The president called on the federal and provincial governments to ensure enabling laws and a safe environment for journalists.

“I also urge media institutions to uphold rigorous ethical standards and call upon the citizens to reject falsehood and support credible journalism,” he added.

In his statement, the president also pointed out the risks posed by disinformation, misinformation and artificial intelligence. “Across the world, journalists continue to face harassment, legal intimidation, economic pressure and in far too many cases, physical danger.”

He continued: “Sadly, powerful global media, especially social media with the help of artificial intelligence, deep fake, today is promoting jingoistic, xenophobic, racist, populist, fascist and might-is-right agendas.”

He observed that tech giants that own social media platforms viewed nation states “with disdain and try to manufacture consent, many a times against the working people and oppressed nations using their algorithmic interventions”.

“Today, the free press is threatened more by the non-state actors, and that includes tech giants and big business,” President Zardari highlighted.

Meanwhile, in his statement, PM Shehbaz noted that “timely dissemination of accurate, impartial, and unbiased information remains the cornerstone of credible journalism”.

“It is the responsibility of every journalist to uphold professional ethics by countering propaganda, fake news, and by effectively discouraging the spread of unverified information. Journalists are not only the custodians of professional standards but are also the guardians of societal values,” he stressed.

The prime minister said the spread of “fake news and coordinated disinformation campaigns poses a real threat to national cohesion and global credibility”.

“Ensuring both speed and credibility in news dissemination is imperative. I urge all journalists to uphold the highest standards of verification, integrity, and professionalism, so that in this fast-paced digital era, competition never comes at the cost of truth,” he said.

The premier also lauded the national media for showing “commendable responsibility during critical conflict moments”, including the May 2025 conflict with India a year ago.

He recalled that the media “contributed to a coordinated national response, reinforced unity, and presented Pakistan’s position with clarity and accuracy”, while also countering misinformation.

Referring to this year’s theme of “Shaping a Peaceful Future”, PM Shehbaz highlighted that the “availability of credible information, responsible journalism, and informed public discourse play a decisive role in shaping sustainable peace globally”.

“The media holds immense potential to promote constructive engagement and strengthen diplomatic, economic, and social ties among nations. Often, accurate representation of perspectives can help resolve complex issues,” the prime minister remarked.

He further noted, “The media landscape is rapidly evolving with technological advancements. Digital platforms now play a pivotal role in shaping both national and global public opinion.

“In this changing environment, the media has an important responsibility to effectively project Pakistan’s national identity and perspective on the global stage. Media institutions must adapt to digital transformation with both speed and a strong sense of responsibility.”

A recent report, released by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), noted that Pakistan’s media is caught in a bind — squeezed simultaneously by legal pressure, physical violence, digital harassment and financial coercion.

It documented at least 233 incidents of journalists being targeted between January 2025 and April 2026, including 67 assaults, 67 criminal complaints, 11 arrests, 11 detentions and three abductions.

Wildfires that scorched forests in northern Japan, reportedly the second biggest in over 30 years, have been brought under control after 11 days, officials have said.

Hundreds of firefighters and more than 1,000 military personnel had battled the blazes since late April, as they burned around 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) across the mountainous Iwate region.

The affected area is almost five times the size of New York City’s Central Park.

At least eight buildings were damaged, and two people suffered minor injuries, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Thousands of people were evacuated as fires picked up.

Otsuchi town mayor Kozo Hirano told reporters on Saturday that he had been “informed that… the fire had been brought under control” after visiting the area with fire officials.

He credited aerial and ground firefighting operations, as well as heavy rainfall, for containing the flames.

But Hirano said authorities would remain vigilant as there was a possibility that smouldering embers would remain.

Kyodo News described the blaze as Japan’s second-largest wildfire in over 30 years.

Increasingly dry winters have raised the risk of wildfires. Last year, Iwate suffered a separate wildfire that burned 2,600 hectares, the largest in Japan since 1975, when 2,700 hectares were scorched by fire in Kushiro, on the northern island of Hokkaido.

Scientists have long warned that climate change caused by mankind’s burning of fossil fuels will make periods of drought more intense and longer-lasting, creating the ideal conditions for wildfires.

TAXILA: After nearly 15 centuries of silence, the ancient Dharmarajika Stupa came alive on Friday as chants of Buddhist monks echoed once again across the historic site, marking the first such occasion since its destruction in the 5th century CE by the White Huns.

For centuries, the site had remained largely quiet, disturbed only by the soft tread of visitors and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. On Friday afternoon, however, the centuries-old calm gave way to a spiritually charged atmosphere as monks performed religious rituals and delivered a Dhamma sermon at one of the most significant Buddhist heritage sites associated with Emperor Ashoka.

The peace prayer ceremony was organised by the Punjab Archaeology Department in collaboration with Buddhist delegations from five Southeast Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam and Myanmar.

The ritual began in the afternoon with venerable monks from Sri Lanka presenting traditional offerings of incense, light, water, flowers, fruit and rice, followed by the delivery of the Dhamma sermon.

Each offering carried symbolic meaning. Incense represented purity and moral essence, light signified wisdom, water reflected clarity and purification, flowers symbolised the transient nature of life, fruits represented enlightenment, while rice and other food items embodied sustenance for both body and mind.

The ceremony concluded with circumambulation around the main stupa.

The event coincided with Vesak Day, the most sacred Buddhist festival, which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha. Observed by Buddhists around the world, the day, also known as Buddha Purnima, commemorates the birth of Buddha in 623 BC, his attainment of enlightenment, and his passing at the age of 80, all believed to have occurred on the same day. According to Buddhist tradition, the year 2026 marks the 2,570th anniversary of Buddha’s enlightenment.

The United Nations declared Vesak as International Vesak Day in 2000.

Most Venerable Thebo, a distinguished monk from Sri Lanka, along with the renowned Most Venerable Anil Sakiya and other monks, led prayers and delivered sermons while circling the stupa. They called for the revival of the message of peace associated with Emperor Ashoka, who is believed to have promoted Buddhist teachings from this very site over 1,500 years ago.

In his sermon, Most Venerable Anil Sakiya described the stupa as a symbol of peace and said the ceremony was a reminder of the urgent need for harmony in today’s world.

He noted that Taxila was a major centre of learning in the ancient Gandhara civilisation and played a key role in the spread of Buddhism across the region and beyond.

Speaking to the media, Thailand’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Rongvudhi Virabutr, said five Southeast Asian countries had joined hands to celebrate Vesak Day at Taxila. He expressed optimism about increased religious tourism from Thailand but noted the need for improvements in infrastructure and services.

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner, retired Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne, said such events would further strengthen the longstanding cultural ties between the two countries and help promote a global message of peace.

Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan, Ms Rita Dhital, termed the event a success, noting that joint participation by multiple countries highlighted the shared values of peace and interfaith harmony. She said such initiatives would enhance mutual understanding and promote religious tourism.

Syed Zaheer Shah Zaildar, an office-bearer of the Pak-Romania Friendship Association, described the event as a potential “game changer” for Taxila, saying it could boost religious tourism and support infrastructure development under a Rs3.97 billion heritage project.

Later, addressing a seminar titled “A Confluence of Faith, Culture, and Shared Heritage” at the Taxila Museum, Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to preserving its Buddhist heritage.

He said the country held immense potential for religious tourism due to its rich cultural legacy.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

The West’s ’legacy media’ and cultural products might be suffering from what is often called ‘institutional inertia.’ Recently, they have been using old conceptual understandings of a world that is fast being changed by new realities. According to the American sociologist William F. Ogburn, this condition occurs when “mental models” fail to adjust to rapid shifts in the material and geopolitical reality.

In the context of the 21st century, this inertia is particularly visible in Western media’s refusal to acknowledge the erosion of long-standing hegemonic narratives, especially those concerning American power, the state of Israel, the emergence of assertive ‘middle powers’, and the reshaping of nations such as Pakistan.

The response of Western media and cultural products to the sudden waning of the traditional Israeli victimhood narrative provides a primary example of institutional inertia. For decades, Western media and Hollywood operated within a framework and paradigm that instinctively cast Israel as a vulnerable democratic outpost in the Middle East, surrounded by hostile players that are hell-bent on wiping out Israel.

According to the Palestinian-Turkish academic Ahmet Alioglu, this narrative was reinforced by an “institutional editorial logic” that humanised Israeli suffering while rendering Palestinian people as either invisible or viewed only through the lens of terrorism.

As global power shifts and narratives evolve, Western legacy media remains trapped in outdated frameworks. Its inability to recalibrate reveals deeper institutional inertia that risks rendering it irrelevant

But things in this regard are shifting. Data from the 2024 Harvard CAPS-Harris Polls has shown a stark age-gap in the perception of Israel. The data confirms that Americans aged 18–24 are the first generation to view the Israel-Palestinian conflict primarily through the lens of “oppressor vs oppressed” rather than “vulnerable democracy vs existential threat.”

Yet, the institutional inertia within Western media lies in the refusal to recognise that for the generation under 30, Israel’s victimhood narrative has been replaced. To most young Americans, seeing an advanced and aggressive military power being framed as a vulnerable victim creates severe cognitive dissonance.

Filmmaker Raoul Peck’s recent and much-hyped documentary Orwell: 2+2=5 deconstructs the Orwellian newspeak and doublespeak of Vladimir Putin’s Russia vis-a-vis Ukraine, but casually fails to apply the same Orwellian scrutiny to the Israeli militarist regime. By selective application of the totalitarian label, the film follows a traditional hierarchy of villains, demonstrating that even recent critiques are often drawn from a map of the world established in the 20th century.

Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Khomeini, Saddam, Qaddafi, et al: these are the usual culprits. In Peck’s film, Donald Trump too makes multiple appearances. But there is no mention of Benjamin Netanyahu, a virtual dictator who is sought by the International Court of Justice for committing war crimes.

In a review of the documentary on Counterfire, author and activist Elaine Graham-Leigh wrote, “Gaza and Lebanon are mentioned, but there is comparatively little about Israel, which, considering the centrality of questions like how states lie to promote their interests, seems like a pointed omission.”

Indeed, it can be a “pointed omission”, one which is driven by the institutional inertia that a lot of Western journalists and cultural products are struggling to break out of. But many may even be unwilling to let go of the narratives that were so carefully crafted and curated for them years ago. The fear of being labelled as ‘anti-Semitic’ is always there as well.

It is becoming quite apparent that Western media often overlooks how much things are changing. And I’m not talking about tech stuff. I’m referring to how Western media continues to view rising nations such as Türkiye, Brazil, Pakistan, Indonesia etc as minor players who simply follow orders from the West. The fact is, these states have become assertive ‘rule-shapers’ that exercise significant soft power and diplomatic autonomy. They are no more the ‘rule-takers’, or at least not as much as Western media likes to believe.

On the other hand, Hollywood’s inertia continues to treat non-Western cultures as spaces populated by chaotic and even idiosyncratic caricatures. However, the emergence of the ‘Korean Wave’ or Turkish media exports, for instance, is representing a challenge to this imagination.

It is a process that the media scholar Dal Yong Jin describes as “counter-hegemonic.”

But legacy Western institutions struggle to categorise these changes as anything other than a temporary occurrence, failing to account for what the professor of media Koichi Iwabuchi identifies as the rise of “asymmetric global cultural centres” that no longer require Western validation to thrive.

The Western perception of Pakistan is a further case in point. Despite the country’s shift towards geo-economics and its role as a strategic broker in the current multipolar world, Western reporting on Pakistan is frequently governed by a crisis loop that focuses on imminent collapse and radicalisation.

This framing ignores the reality of a tech-literate, urbanised youth population and a nation that maintains strategic autonomy by refusing to join a specific geopolitical bloc. By filtering a changing Pakistan through the decades-old lens of a security state, Western media exhibits what the American political psychologist Philip Tetlock identifies as a form of “expert overconfidence.”

This mindset assumes that, because a narrative worked for decades, it remains valid regardless of the transformation of historical conditions. The most ironic bit in this regard includes Indian commentators who peddle themselves as ‘Pakistan experts’ to find space in Western legacy newspapers. They, too, have to embrace the inertia, even though they often mention Imran Khan to exhibit their updated take on Pakistan. But there’s a slight problem in this. Realistically speaking, Khan has very little to do with the Pakistan of 2026.

Recently, this lag was exemplified by an article on Khan by the Indian journalist Rana Ayyub in The Washington Post. It would’ve had more relevance two or three years ago. It’s completely out of sorts in 2026. Who has Ms Ayub been talking to in Pakistan?

Pakistanis, of course. But here’s the problem: the sources that Western media has within Pakistan have remained largely unchanged, with the same individuals applying outdated lenses to their own country. These folk are often trapped by their own inertia, perhaps fearing that challenging the established perceptions of their Western employers would lead to their professional abandonment.

This often creates a self-perpetuating cycle, where local intermediaries reinforce the stereotypes that scholars such as Edward Said identified as essential to maintaining Western “narrative hegemony.” Western media and cultural institutions now risk speaking to an empty room, while the rest of the world adopts a language of transformation and multi-polarity.

Time to let go of fading narratives and catch up.

Published in Dawn, EOS, May 3rd, 2026

RAWALPINDI: The residents of Bahria Town Rawalpindi on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against the administration of Bahria Town for not providing civic facilities despite getting hefty fees from them.

A large number of residents, traders, property owners, investors, families, and community leaders from Bahria Town Phases 1-8 assembled at Allama Iqbal Junction Phase 8.

Jamaat-i-Islami representatives also participated in the protest. The participants carried placards, banners, and display boards, clearly expressing their demands and urging Malik Riaz and Bahria Town Private Limited to relinquish control.

Tahir Nihad Bajwa, Chairman of RABT and President of BRACE, led a procession and said that highlighted systemic failures in governance, service delivery, and regulatory oversight and declared that the community has been paying heavily without receiving basic rights or services.

He presented the charter of demands and said that it had already been submitted to all relevant authorities.

He urged the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Capital Development Authority (CDA), and district administration to appoint owners’ association to look after the affairs of Bahria Town within 15 days.

He said that the electricity system in Bahira Town would be handed over to Islamabad Electric Supply Company under the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority Financial Justice, an independent audit of 21 years to be held, refund of excess charges, property rights, relief for investors and affected property owners, legal and technical audit of projects, Accountability and action against regulatory failures (RDA, CDA, others).

Traders representative Atta Khan highlighted excessive charges for electricity, water, maintenance, and security and stated that services have consistently failed despite heavy payments.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Security measures put in place around places of worship, especially during Friday prayers, were found unsatisfactory, raising concerns about public safety.

Police officials told Dawn that the Islamabad inspector general of police himself found security arrangements around worship places unsatisfactory and compromised when he visited mosques and imambargahs during Friday prayers.

The police chief visited several worship places, including Jamia Masjid Bibil in Sector G-6/3, to check and review security measures during Friday prayers. However, he found improper arrangements at the mosque, as no police official was present on duty.

Besides, improper and unsatisfactory security arrangements were also found at various worship places in the capital, including some located inside the high-security zone.

IG visited several worship places to check and review security measures during Friday prayers

There were no security arrangements around a number of worship places. In some cases, an unarmed lone policeman was spotted near such places, while seminary students were sitting at the main entrance to ensure security.

The police chief observed that negligence in security could lead to compromised public safety, officials said.

It was the prime responsibility of supervisory officers to ensure comprehensive security arrangements at worship places in accordance with the security plan and to have it implemented through station house officers, they said.

Officials noted that all failed to perform their duties professionally and efficiently. Surprisingly, no supervisory officers were in the field to check duties or question SHOs over non-implementation of the security plan, especially during Friday prayers.

In response, supervisory officers and SHOs were questioned over their failure to implement the security plan. Show-cause notices were issued to SHOs from the office of the AIG Establishment, stating, “The negligence in connection with security could compromise public safety.”

Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi was approached for comments but did not respond.

The capital has 990 mosques and 33 imambargahs. Worship places have been divided into three categories. 43 mosques and 21 imambargahs have been placed in Category A, 351 mosques and seven imambargahs in Category B and 596 mosques and five imambargahs in Category C.

Most worship places in Category A belong to the Deobandi sect and face threats related to terrorism and sectarianism.

Most worship places in Category B belong to the Barelvi school of thought. These places also face terrorism and sectarian threats, along with disputes over land ownership and possession.

Worship places without serious threats have been placed in Category C. There are no significant sectarian issues or disputes at these locations.

The categorisation was made after a security audit of worship places by the Special Branch of the capital police, the Counter Terrorism Force and other police wings. Assistance was also taken from intelligence agencies, officials said.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department has arrested a YouTuber for recruiting individuals for a banned outfit and registered a case against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The FIR identified the suspect as Muhammad Saad bin Riaz, associated with YouTube channel named Eon News. A case has been registered against him on behalf of the state under Section 11F(2), pertaining to membership and support of a proscribed organisation and Section 11W, which relates to the dissemination of material linked to banned groups.

According to FIR, the arrest was made on April 27 during a search operation near GPO Chowk on Mall Road.

“After getting information from a source that a suspected al-Qaeda member was present at a mosque, Hanfia Ghusia Mughal Saraiy, opposite to Lytton Road, he was caught recruiting individuals and distributing prohibited material.”

During the raid, officials claimed to have recovered five copies of a book about Osama bin Laden from his custody along with an al-Qaeda membership card.

Meanwhile, the CTD claimed to have arrested 21 suspected members of banned organisations within this week and foiled planned terrorist activities in different districts.

According to a CTD spokesperson, the department conducted 214 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the province and questioned 215 suspects, leading to the arrest of 21 individuals.

Among those was a suspected member of Fitna-ul-Khawarij identified as Peer Shams arrested from Lahore and an alleged Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) operative Abdul Lateef apprehended from Toba Tek Singh.

The spokesperson said the suspects were arrested during IBOs in various districts including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Jhang, Khanewal, Mianwali, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Gujrat, Pakpattan and Bahawalpur.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

QUETTA: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), Balochistan, has announced the launch of a protest movement against raids on religious seminaries across the province.

Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey, the provincial chief of the JUI-F, stated that a province-wide shutter-down strike and protest demonstrations would take place on May 6.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said that on May 10, seminary students and party workers from across Balochistan would march towards Quetta. He added that JUI-F members in the provincial assembly would stage strong protests inside the Balochistan Assembly. He also announced that party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would address a JUI conference in Pishin on June 4.

These decisions were taken during a meeting of the JUI-F’s provincial leadership and later announced at the press conference. Opposition Leader Mir Younas Aziz Zehri, Maulana Salahuddin, Maulana Faiz Muhammad, Agha Mehmood Shah, Malik Sikandar, and others were also present.

Red line

Maulana Wasey alleged his party faced election rigging and that development funds for its members had been withheld. He said the party exercised restraint in the interest of democracy, but emphasised that seminaries were a “red line” and any raids on them would not be tolerated.

He stated that a deadline had been given to Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti to apologise for the seminary raids. However, a three-member delegation of provincial ministers met them and conveyed that the chief minister is currently abroad, requesting a postponement of the protest movement until his return.

He claimed the protest campaign would remain peaceful and that no damage to property would be allowed. He warned that JUI-F lawmakers would protest within the assembly and disrupt proceedings if necessary.

Responding to a question, the JUI-F leader said the government was given a May 2 deadline to issue an apology and withdraw the madrasa-related notification, but no practical steps had been taken to date.

He also criticised the government for passing a Societies Act mandating seminaries registration, stating that the party would not accept this under any circumstances. He added the government had failed to fulfill its commitments regarding the Mines and Minerals Act, and that a request for one week’s time was rejected during the meeting.

He added that if amendments were included in the May 5 assembly session agenda, the party would acknowledge the government’s efforts; otherwise, the planned march to Quetta on May 10 would proceed. He accused CM Bugti of violating the constitution and urged him to act prudently. In response to another query, Maulana Wasey said that under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, a seminary-related law has already been passed by the National Assembly, and it was the responsibility of provincial governments to implement it.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

WHILE Pakistan remained preoccupied with facilitating talks between the US and Iran, the public discourse largely overlooked critical developments on other fronts, particularly internal security challenges, a worsening relationship with Afghanistan, and the approaching first anniversary of the Pakistan-India stand-off.

The enthusiasm surrounding Pakistan’s role in a high-stakes global diplomatic effort has, in many ways, diverted attention from pressing domestic and regional concerns. In this fixation with great power diplomacy, media and opinion-makers have also failed to adequately reflect on how the war is affecting the ordinary citizen. While one can’t look at the sky and ground at the same time, walking while gazing upwards can be dangerous, especially on a bumpy terrain.

We need a reality check: since the US-Israel war with Iran started on Feb 28, Pakistan’s security situation has worsened. If one looks at the data and compares the two quarters from October-December 2025 and January-March 2026, the total number of attacks rose from 128 to 169, while fatalities more than doubled from 169 to 349, showing a clear rise in both the frequency and severity of violence.

The rise was largely driven by TTP, the Gul Bahadur group, IS-K, and other groups with similar objectives, whose attacks increased by 68 per cent (from 81 to 136). In contrast, Baloch insurgent attacks declined by 25pc (from 44 to 33), but fatalities surged by 630pc (from 23 to 168), indicating a shift towards fewer yet deadlier operations.

April also witnessed 55 attacks, indicating that the Urumqi talks had little to no effect. These attacks do not include cross-border terrorist incursions, which continue, with both Afghanistan and Pakistan trading barbs and accusing each other of cross-border firing. All this affects civilian populations and the livelihoods of people living along the border. Meanwhile, a new feature gradually gaining ground in the country’s security landscape is the growing use of commercial and modified unmanned aerial devices. Last week, militants launched three quadcopter attacks in Hangu, and the expansion of such attacks from Bannu and North Waziristan to other tribal districts has been noted.

This is a clear indication that Pakistan’s security environment has entered a new phase, one that reflects not merely escalation, but transformation. The country is no longer dealing with a single-dimensional terrorist threat; instead, it faces a layered contest involving cross-border sanctuaries, retaliatory strikes, and an expanding information war.

Equally significant is the doctrinal shift in militant tactics, where low-cost quadcopter drones have altered the operational landscape. These tools are not merely tactical innovations but instruments of psychological dominance, enabling stand-off attacks on checkpoints, police stations and civilian areas while amplifying propaganda gains.

The country is no longer dealing with a single-dimensional terrorist threat.

Since 2024, this convergence has become visible in the open record, with Pakistan striking across the Afghan border, militant groups openly deploying drones, and even the Afghan Taliban acknowledging cross-border drone activity. This evolution is geographically anchored in two corridors: the northern belt linking eastern Afghanistan to Bajaur, Waziristan, and Bannu, and the southern routes feeding instability into the Sibi-Bolan-Quetta axis. At the core of this shift lies the resurgence of TTP, operating with renewed confidence under perceived sanctuary conditions.

Pakistan is busy in a kinetic campaign on all these fronts — from Balochistan to the KP’s tribal districts and inside Afghanistan. In the case of pre-emptive strikes across the border, precision is particularly needed to avoid collateral damage. This comes through effective and foolproof intelligence, which may be a critical link in this context. In such a setting, the state’s advantage will depend less on rhetoric and more on integrated defence, evidentiary credibility, and a calibrated political engagement that ties diplomacy with Kabul to verifiable security outcomes.

The outcome of the Urumqi talks, a channel facilitated by China between Afghanistan and Pakistan, is not well known, as most of it is based on unverifiable sources. Yet another diplomatic channel is facilitated by Turkiye, but it seems that neither side is interested in showing flexibility and finding ways to reduce dependence on the other.

Pakistan has opened its land and sea routes for Iran, while Iran has allowed Pakistan a passage to Central Asia. Apparently, this move is a counter-response by Pakistan to the Taliban regime’s efforts to diversify its trade relations with Central Asian states and explore new trade routes. Afghanistan’s desire to expand its connectivity is not new; it has been trying to materialise this vision for decades.

However, as long as its borders with Pakistan remained open, diverting trade routes was less attractive. This time, Pakistan has closed its borders as a punitive measure against the Taliban’s non-cooperation on terrorist networks targeting this country, prompting Afghanistan to rapidly look for alternative options.

By utilising Iranian routes, Pakistan has opened a new trade corridor to Central Asian markets such as Uzbekistan. These developments aim to stabilise the region by replacing illicit activities with transparent, documented commercial activity. This economic cooperation provides Pakistan with a strategic alternative, particularly as tensions and closures persist along the Afghan border.

However, has the state considered whether ignoring the shortest routes and adopting longer trade routes is viable in the long run? Can Iran be an alternative to Afghanistan for connectivity ambitions with Central Asia and beyond? Does Pakistan trust Iran, and is Tehran really entering a new phase in its relationship with Islamabad? What are the future prospects of this arrangement?

No doubt, the Taliban are not acting as rational actors and are reluctant to take action against terrorist networks with which they have long-standing partnerships. A more pragmatic framework, combining punitive measures with cooperation, would have been more effective.

However, Pakistan’s dilemma is that Afghanistan is its only neighbour that falls within its sphere of influence, and Afghanistan is often perceived in a way similar to how the US views countries within its own sphere of influence.

The writer is a security analyst.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

THERE is no democracy without accountability of power — and how is accountability possible if one is punished for speaking up?

Such is today’s dilemma as press freedom goes through yet another tough phase, with lawfare, enforced disappearances, online campaigns, harassment, and harsh financial tactics employed against those attempting to express opinions deemed unfavourable to the power wielders.

The Constitution lists press freedom as a fundamental right in Article 19, which deals with freedom of speech; hence it establishes an intrinsic link between the two. An independent press has been traditionally cited as the ‘fourth pillar’ of the state in addition to the executive, legislature, and judiciary, effectively cementing the role of the press in holding accountable all three conventional pillars of a democratic state.

Further, an independent press informs the citizenry of events and issues, and provides analyses so that citizens can shape their own opinions. Hence, the right to access to information, especially relating to matters of public importance, is protected by the right to information under Article 19-A of the Constitution.

Social media has become a powerful avenue for the expression of views, empowering citizens across the country. With access to the internet and growing literacy, citizens are taking on the role of independent press outlets by participating in public conversations. Unfortunately, attacks on individual speech have increased simultaneously.

In the past few weeks, we have seen Pakistani authorities arrest a citizen for a satirical comment about the blockade of the capital for the US-Iran talks. This is tantamount to punishing one of the most potent cultural characteristics of the Pakistani internet user: humour.

Journalists have borne the brunt of the state’s wrath as the government started to take its mediation efforts in the US-Iran crisis seriously.

A concerted online campaign against Matiullah Jan led to him losing his job as TV talk show host for his ‘crime’ of inviting foreign journalists to the National Press Club and, ironically, apprising them of the state of press freedom in the country.

Journalist Fakhar-ur-Rehman, working for a Turkish news agency, was also arrested and brought to court in handcuffs before being granted bail. He was accused of sharing “false information” under Section 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), which carries a punishment of up to three years.

Who determines what counts as false information, and whether jailing someone for sharing it is a proportionate punitive measure?

But who determines what counts as ‘false information’, and whether jailing someone for sharing it is a proportionate punitive measure?

Section 26-A of Peca clearly fails the proportionality test of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It also fails the legality and necessity test by introducing a law without stakeholder input or public debate, that leaves ‘false information’ undefined and criminalises free speech. In short, Peca is being used as instrument of lawfare.

In addition to the ‘false information’ section, the ‘glorification of an offence’ and ‘cyberterrorism’ sections of Peca have also been abused by the state, as seen in the 17-year sentence handed down to human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha for tweets about human rights, counterterrorism policy, and the Constitution.

The 100th day of their incarceration falls on World Press Freedom Day, being observed today, with no signs of their appeals being listed in the higher judiciary so far — exposing yet another failure of due process in the post 26th- and 27th-Amendment judiciary.

There have been laws promulgated to protect journalists, such as the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act of 2021. However, the commission formed in November 2025 under the Act has so far failed to play its due role of protecting media professionals and journalists, as evident in the firing, arrests, and disappearances of journalists in the months since the commission’s inception.

And then there is the most insidious form of censorship today: financial squeezing of media that is independent. The financial model of media conglomerates in Pakistan relies heavily on government advertisement as a source of revenue, which the state has been using to reward ‘friendly’ media houses and punish ‘hostile’ ones by withdrawing or not giving advertisements.

The state has also gone as far as to pressure private advertisers to withdraw advertisements from media houses that stay committed to independent journalism. In some cases, employees have not been paid for over three months with continuing pressure from state officials, who make the disbursement of advertisement payment contingent upon the exercise of censorship.

Pakistan’s commitments under the ICCPR, which it has ratified, and EU trade concessions under the GSP-Plus scheme, make it obligatory for the government to improve the state of human rights in the country — including freedom of expression and press freedom. So, improving human rights in the country is not just about fulfilling obligations; it is also a way of enhancing support for the export market and helping the business community in its work.

Where do the conduits between the citizens and state, ie, the political parties, stand on all of this? Silence and reluctant cheerleading of the repressive status quo on a ‘friendly’ media is their modus operandi after having espoused the virtues of freedom of expression and press freedom, when in the opposition and on the receiving end of state censorship.

At a time when the political opposition has been disqualified and jailed in political cases, the media is being judicially and financially squeezed into compliance. Swathes of land in the country, such as Balochistan and western KP, are cut off from the media ecosystem, and the chilling effect of authoritarian overreach is seen in self-censorship and the weakening of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental civil liberties.

The state — revelling in its role as mediator in a global war — should extend its generosity to its own citizenry and move towards confidence-building measures with the media, the political opposition, and in fact, all citizens. There can be no democracy or justice where the citizens and press are silenced.

The writer is director of Bolo Bhi, an advocacy forum for digital rights.

X: @UsamaKhilji

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

THE citizenry forgets, to its own peril, how important a free and independent media is in the preservation of their personal freedoms.

Today, on World Press Freedom Day, it is worth reflecting on the state of our media and how continuing restrictions on its ability to function independently may, in fact, jeopardise individual liberties.

A sobering report on this matter has been issued recently by the Pakistan Press Foundation. It notes, by way of introduction, that Pakistani media has, over the past year, “been placed in a bind with the use of more emboldened […] methods of restrictions, repercussions, intimidation and threats…”.

It describes the “reality of journalism in Pakistan” as an ordeal involving “overly active forms of legal challenges — from criminal complaints to summons, the continuation of violent physical attacks coupled with threats of violence, digital threats and harassment online, further amplified in an age of Artificial Intelligence…”.

The report makes note of “censorship and silencing tactics, including through regulatory mechanisms and in other instances through suspension of advertisements”, and highlights more than 230 instances of violence, threats and legal actions targeting journalists, among other incidents.

The complete report is instructive in outlining the full scope of repressive actions the Pakistani media is being subjected to and should be a must-read for critics who believe Pakistani journalism is somehow willfully unwilling to cater to the needs of citizens today.

The fact is that the entire industry is being slowly suffocated by the repressive actions of a state that has gradually come untethered from law and principle. The choices faced by many of its practitioners every day are often stark and binary: choose between survival and principles. It is not easy for journalists to continue fighting alone, and the rise of opportunists who put profit over principle has greatly weakened the industry’s ability to fend for itself.

The public must ask why populists and despots the world over continue fanning discontent against organised media, often holding up opinion polls depicting declining public trust as ‘proof’ that traditional media is no longer relevant.

‘Fake news media’ is the pejorative of choice that gets thrown at platforms for the ‘crime’ of not siding with the powers of the day. The goal seems simple: a fragmented, influencer-dependent public is far easier to manipulate than one anchored by an organised, independent press. A public that abandons its press abandons its last organised defence against the unchecked ambitions of power.

The slow strangulation of independent media is, therefore, not merely a professional crisis for journalists but an existential one for democracy itself. On this World Press Freedom Day, the most meaningful act of solidarity any citizen can offer is simply to recognise that a free press and a free people are, in the end, inseparable.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

KARACHI: The war in the region has almost wiped out foreign investment in Pakistan’s domestic bonds, leaving little chance of recovery if the current situation prevails, said financial experts.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data showed that foreign investors have almost left the domestic bonds, which had been their preferred choice, as returns were highest in the region and very high compared with most other countries.

A day ago, the central bank further increased the yields on Treasury Bills by up to 83 basis points to almost 12pc, making them more attractive to investors.

The SBP data showed that over 94pc of foreign investment in T-bills left the country by April 17.

Mideast war drives 94pc outflow from treasury bills

This could be a result of destabilisation due to war in the region, which is still ongoing without knowing the final outcome of this deadlock in the talks between Iran and the United States.

Threats and counter-threats between the two countries have created a broad range of uncertainties, while significant disruptions to oil and gas supplies from the region have already jeopardised fragile economies such as Pakistan’s.

The oil import bill has risen to $800m per week, up from $300m before the Middle East conflict. The war has greatly shaken confidence as evidenced by the case of lucrative domestic bonds.

From July 1 to April 17 2025-26, inflows into T-bills were $975 million, while outflows were $917 million, indicating a net investment of $58m.

Experts said it is highly encouraging that Pakistan repaid a huge amount of $3.5bn to the UAE, $1.4bn against Eurobond maturity, and allowed outflows of profits and dividends from foreign investments amounting to $1.8bn during the first nine months of FY26.

“Pakistan has re-entered the international market and raised $750m, reflecting that the confidence of foreign investors would jump with the end of the Gulf war, and we can expect large foreign investments in the post-war era,” said S.S. Iqbal, a money market expert.

He said Pakistan would be in the best position compared with other regional countries, as it has succeeded in developing good relations with all major global powers and Gulf countries.

The SBP data showed that the highest outflows from the T-bills were $291m to the UK, followed by $271m to the UAE. Other significant outflows were $218m to Bahrain and $77m to Singapore. An outflow of $32m was to the USA.

Financial experts noted that despite the highly attractive returns on domestic bonds, Chinese investors never entered the market. Instead, Pakistan is seeking to enter the Chinese financial market through a $250m Panda bond issuance.

China has been the largest foreign investor in the country for several years and is the biggest trade partner, replacing the UAE.

They said the 100bps interest rate hike to 11.5pc was a good move, as April inflation was 10.9pc. This means the increased returns on T-bills could be highly attractive to domestic investors, as they offered Rs3.8 trillion in the auction held a couple of days ago.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026