AJK observes Press Freedom Day with renewed call for media protection

MIRPUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2026) World Press Freedom Day was marked across Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday with a renewed pledge to uphold freedom of expression and ensure the safety of journalists worldwide. Various events, including rallies and meetings, highlighted the importance of protecting media rights, especially in conflict regions.

In Mirpur, journalists gathered under the banner of local press organizations, where speakers including Syed Abid Hussain Shah, Altaf Hamid Rao and Hafiz Maqsood expressed concern over increasing restrictions on media in Illegally Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. They called on international bodies to take notice of the challenges faced by journalists working under difficult conditions.

Speakers strongly criticized reported actions against journalists, including legal cases and restrictions on media coverage, and urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to play an active role in ensuring press freedom.

They stressed that limiting access to both local and foreign media restricts the flow of information and undermines transparency.

The speakers also pointed out broader issues affecting journalists globally, including safety risks and lack of protective measures. While noting improvements in media freedom in Pakistan compared to previous periods, they emphasized the need for further steps to provide a safe and supportive environment for journalists, reaffirming the vital role of a free press in a democratic society.

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