News Desk
Lahore, November 7, 2025:
The Christian Journalists Association of Pakistan (CJAP) has expressed solidarity with journalists across the country who continue to risk their lives to uphold the right to information and defend freedom of expression. In a statement issued on Thursday, CJAP paid tribute to media professionals working in challenging and often dangerous circumstances, emphasizing that “journalists are the voice of truth — exposing injustice, corruption, and inequality.”
CJAP noted that despite the crucial role journalists play in strengthening democracy, many continue to face threats, harassment, and violence. According to the UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists, more than 100 journalists have been killed in Pakistan over the past two decades. The association highlighted that in nearly nine out of ten such cases, the perpetrators remain unpunished — a situation it described as a “culture of impunity” that undermines democracy and erodes public trust.
The organization called for the full functionality of the Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals, an independent body established under Pakistan’s Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021. CJAP stressed that empowering the commission is essential to ensure justice, protection, and institutional support for journalists under threat.
The association also urged policymakers to safeguard digital civic space and protect freedom of expression, warning against the misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025. It said that ensuring safe digital environments would allow journalists and citizens to “speak truth without fear, censorship, or prosecution.”
CJAP further echoed the concerns of the Pakistan Journalists Network (PJN) regarding the rising trend of AI-facilitated gender-based violence (GBV) against women journalists. It called for awareness, accountability, and justice mechanisms to address online harassment and threats targeting women in media.
Concluding its statement, CJAP reaffirmed that a free and independent press is vital for building “a just, peaceful, and inclusive society,” and reiterated its commitment to advocating for the safety, dignity, and rights of journalists in Pakistan.