Stories about Pakistan
Pakistan's proposed media development authority could further curb freedom of media
The representatives of different press clubs of the country have declared the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) “a media martial law” and rejected it outright.
South Asia mourns Indian feminist icon Kamla Bhasin
Kamla Bhasin, a pioneer of the women’s rights movement in South Asia, died on September 25, 2021 in New Delhi, India. Activists remembered her on social media and mourned her...
An eight-year-old boy is the youngest person ever accused of blasphemy in Pakistan’s history
An eight-year-old Hindu boy has become the youngest person ever to be charged under Pakistan's blasphemy laws after he intentionally urinated in an Islamic religious school library.
Pakistani woman cricketer Nida Dar faces sexism from a former cricketer
Excerpts of a recent interview with Abdul Razzag and Nida Dar show him pointing out that the top woman cricketer is "manly".
‘Aurat March’ organizers face intimidation and threats of prosecution in Pakistan
The organizers of this year's Aurat March (Women's March) in Pakistan faced disinformation campaigns, threats from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and were even accused of blasphemy.
Cancellation of conference on 50th anniversary of the Bangladesh War of Liberation sparks criticism
The organisers gave no reason for the cancellation, but some see it as a worrying sign of the erosion of intellectual freedom.
Pakistan bans TikTok for the second time
TikTok was blocked in Pakistan for 10 days in October 2020. Access was restored after the app's parent company ByteDance assured authorities it would bolster moderation.
‘Aurat March’ 2021 presents feminist healthcare manifesto in Pakistan
Saying that COVID-19 enabled a "Pandemic of Patriarchy," the marchers demanded the government increase the health budget to 5 per cent of GDP so that women may get better healthcare.
Three climbers go missing during winter attempt to scale K2 summit in Pakistan
Though chances of their survival are slim, the families of three missing mountaineers have been hoping for a miracle.
Pakistan's Supreme Court orders reconstruction of Hindu temple razed by a mob incited by Muslim clerics
A cleric of the religious right-wing political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was arrested in connection with the incident.
2020 round-up: COVID-19 in South Asia
The COVID-19 pandemic swamped our coverage in the past 12 months as we highlighted the challenges people faced and the fight against the coronavirus across the region.
European NGO uncovers 15-year Indian disinformation campaign
The explosive report by a Brussels-based Non-Governmental Organisation has unleashed a new war of narratives between India and Pakistan.
After years of protests, the Islamabad Zoo will convert into an animal sanctuary
A happy ending for 2020, a year when Pakistanis debated animal abuse like never before.
Pakistan to introduce tougher punishment for rape—including chemical castration
The laws address several aspects of the criminal process and include an expansion of the definition of rape, which was welcomed by activists. Other points, however, received mixed reactions.
In Pakistan, social media platforms risk bans under new ‘draconian’ rules
New rules vesting the government with the power to regulate online content and ban entire platforms drew criticism from human rights groups and tech companies.
Freedom in sight for Kaavan, ‘the world's loneliest elephant’
Animal rights activists have long highlighted the poor treatment and handling of the animals in Pakistan zoos.
Pakistan lifts ban on TikTok with conditions
Pakistani social media users strongly reacted to the ban on TikTok and criticized the telecom regulator.
In Pakistan, women stage nationwide protest in response to shocking rape incident
The protests' organizers also expressed opposition to public hangings, a call that often resurfaces in Pakistan whenever a rape incident gains media attention.
Journalists face sedition charges under cybercrime law in Pakistan
"The alarming increase in such actions against journalists confirms that the government is bent on muzzling freedom of expression."
In Pakistan, a man accused of blasphemy was shot dead in a courtroom. His killer was hailed as a hero.
Extrajudicial killings of people accused of blasphemy aren't uncommon in Pakistan.
