The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Tuesday voiced serious concern over what it described as a rapidly shrinking space for independent and critical journalism in the country, citing the continued ban on government advertisements to the Dawn Media Group and its affiliated outlets.
The commission’s remarks come amid growing criticism from media organisations following the government’s unannounced decision to restrict advertisements to Dawn News and CityFM89, after already curtailing ads to the group’s flagship newspaper for more than a year.
In a statement on X, the HRCP said the reported 13-month ban on government advertising to Dawn Media Group had now expanded to include its television and radio channels. The commission termed the move deeply troubling, noting the irony that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a strong advocate of press freedom, founded Dawn.
The HRCP said the selective withdrawal of state advertising, funded through public money, has become an increasingly coercive tool to pressure media organisations, undermine editorial independence, and punish critical reporting. It warned that democratic accountability and freedom of expression cannot survive in an environment where economic pressure is used to discipline the press.
HRCP expresses grave concern over the rapidly shrinking space for independent and critical news reporting in the country, including the reported 13-month ban on government advertisements to the Dawn Media Group, which has recently been extended to @Dawn_News and CityFM89. This is…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) December 16, 2025Calling for immediate corrective action, the commission urged the government to end what it described as discriminatory practices and to restore an environment in which free, independent, and responsible journalism can function without fear or financial coercion.
Several media bodies have echoed these concerns in recent days. The Council of Newspaper Editors (CPNE) said Dawn remains one of Pakistan’s most respected media institutions and warned that withholding government advertisements risks financially crippling the organisation. The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) also expressed dismay over the decision. At the same time, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) condemned the use of advertising to control media narratives and restrict free expression.
The Joint Action Committee of journalist bodies criticised the government, stating that officials weaponise advertising to pressure independent media houses. Earlier this year, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) noted in its Islamabad Declaration that the federal and Punjab governments denied Dawn advertisements since October 2024 due to its professional and critical editorial stance.
The HRCP further recalled that restrictions on Dawn’s operations are not unprecedented; following the “Dawn Leaks” episode, authorities blocked the newspaper’s circulation in several parts of the country, particularly cantonment areas, raising longstanding concerns about obstructing its reporting.
