In August 2026, Pakistan introduced new Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines requiring foreign media personnel, including Pakistani journalists working for international outlets, to register and obtain government permission to report outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The rules also require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for reporting, filming or producing social-media content in other parts of the country, while accreditation may be suspended or revoked on broad grounds including activities deemed contrary to Pakistan’s ‘ideology, sovereignty, security or public order.’ Press-freedom and human rights organisations condemned the measures as a further restriction on independent journalism and freedom of expression. The guidelines were introduced amid restrictions on reporting from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where internet access was disrupted and access to Al Jazeera’s website was blocked following its coverage of protests and elections. The guidelines also come amid a broader crackdown on Pakistani journalists based overseas since late 2025.

Sources: Dawn, The New York Times, Committee to Protect Journalists (1), Committee to Protect Journalists (2)

On 5 June, authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a popular grassroots civil society coalition, which was not contesting the regional election. Authorities used anti-terrorism legislation to enact the ban, ahead of voting  beginning on 27 July. Authorities also suspended internet and mobile services, sealed the movement’s office and reportedly arrested more than 100 JAAC activists. During clashes on 7 June, at least eight protesters and four police officers were killed and dozens injured. Amnesty International called the ban disproportionate and unlawful, while the UN Human Rights Office said criminalizing the movement raised serious concerns for freedom of expression, assembly and association. Moreover, communication restrictions disrupted campaigning, while JAAC urged its supporters to  boycott the election.

Update: Between June and late July, at least 40 people, including 34 protesters and six security personnel, had reportedly been killed. Despite the violence, boycott and continuing communications restrictions, the regional election proceeded in three phases from 27 July to 10 August

Sources: Amnesty International, OHCHR, Al Jazeera, BBC News, HRCP

On 17 December, Pakistan’s president assented to the long-delayed National Commission for Minority Rights Bill 2025, fulfilling a decade-old Supreme Court directive to establish a statutory body dedicated to protecting minority rights. The law creates a National Commission for Minorities Rights to monitor violations, advise the government and support non-Muslim religious communities, replacing a previous ad-hoc advisory body. The framework mandates the inclusion of women and members from every province in the Commission and introduces mechanisms to assist victims of minority-related abuses—marking an important step toward institutionalizing minority rights. However, rights advocates and opposition parties criticized the bill for explicitly excluding the long-persecuted Ahmadi community (legally declared non-Muslim since 1974), arguing it further entrenches their lack of legal protections. 

Sources: The Express Tribune, Courting the Law, Dawn, International Human Rights Committee, National Assembly of Pakistan 

On 13 November, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment, creating a new constitutional court, granting extensive powers to the president, and providing senior military officers and the president with lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution. Opposition leaders boycotted the vote and civil society have criticized the ‘hastily adopted’ amendments, which prevented adequate public consultations. The new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) will sit above the Supreme Court, transferring judicial appointments from the Judicial Commission to the executive. The government argues that the judicial changes will help alleviate the backlog of cases in the Supreme Court by limiting its role to non-constitutional matters. However, the amendment has faced widespread condemnation, with two Supreme Court judges resigning in protest. 

Sources: Constitutionnet, Chatham House, OHCHR, International Bar Association, DevDiscourse, Daily Pakistan