Nov 26 – Pakistan’s record on women’s rights continues to deteriorate, with 2025 reinforcing a trend of shrinking civic space and growing repression of women in public life. The latest concerns were raised after the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the government for using the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to register cases against female journalists who criticised state institutions.
According to PFUJ, the journalists were accused of spreading “false information” and “anti-state propaganda”—charges the union described as vague, overly broad, and routinely used to silence dissent. The organisation warned that the targeting of women journalists has become increasingly common under the current military-backed administration, with reporters facing harassment, online abuse and, in some cases, fabricated legal charges simply for carrying out their professional duties.
Pattern of Gendered Repression
The crackdown on female journalists reflects a broader pattern of gender-based intimidation across Pakistan. Since Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir became Army Chief, press freedoms have sharply declined, and women in the media have found themselves at the frontline of state and online harassment. Prominent journalists including Asma Shirazi and Gharidah Farooqi have faced coordinated trolling campaigns, surveillance, and threats amplified by bot networks and accounts sympathetic to the military establishment.
In some cases, women journalists have received threats of blasphemy accusations—effectively life-threatening in Pakistan. Others have been served notices under PECA, accused of “defaming” the military or “creating unrest.” Reporters have also documented stalking, abusive calls to family members, and aggressive online smear campaigns. Rights groups note that in Pakistan, digital harassment can easily escalate into physical harm, placing women at heightened risk.
Human Rights Groups Sound the Alarm
PFUJ’s 2025 statement linked the misuse of PECA directly to shrinking press freedom and warned that women reporters faced a “double burden”—state persecution and an entrenched culture of misogyny. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have similarly documented the law’s misuse, noting that the state often validates gendered attacks by filing official cases against women critics of the government or military.
Pakistan consistently ranks among the lowest in global gender-equality indices. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report places the country near the bottom, with persistent gaps in education, literacy, employment and political participation. Domestic violence remains widespread, and the persistence of so-called “honour killings” continues to expose systemic failures in law enforcement and prosecution. Rights groups recorded hundreds of such killings in 2024 alone, often met with lenient legal responses.
Women’s Activism Under Pressure
Women participating in civil society movements have also faced increasing repression. At the 2025 Aurat March, organisers reported the tearing down of posters, police obstruction of rallies and summons for questioning. Participants have repeatedly been subjected to threats of violence and accusations of blasphemy. Meanwhile, women from minority communities—particularly Hindu and Christian girls—remain vulnerable to forced conversions and coerced marriages in Sindh and Punjab.
Press Freedom in Decline
What makes the targeting of female journalists especially concerning is that they represent a small group of women who have managed to break through restrictive barriers to public life. Instead of protection, they face intensified scrutiny and criminalisation. Rights organisations argue that laws such as PECA have become tools for political repression, while impunity for gender-based violence remains widespread.
The UN Human Rights Council has flagged shrinking space for women journalists as a critical concern. Reporters Without Borders ranked Pakistan 158th out of 180 countries in its 2025 Press Freedom Index, highlighting specific dangers faced by women. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has also acknowledged that women bear a disproportionately high burden of rights violations, whether as journalists, activists, or ordinary citizens.
A Climate of Silence and Fear
Observers note that Pakistan is increasingly normalising a climate in which women’s safety and voices are suppressed. As Field Marshal Munir’s tenure continues, critics say dissent is being met with harsher punitive measures, with women shouldering much of the impact. Analysts warn that without meaningful reform, Pakistan risks further entrenching authoritarian governance at the expense of women’s rights, free expression, and democratic accountability.
