In a blatant crackdown on press freedom, Pakistani authorities detained journalist Sohrab Barkat last month for openly criticizing powerful state institutions online. Since his arrest, he has been saddled with three separate cases under Pakistan’s draconian cyber crime laws two of which were filed secretly in August 2024 and 2025, without informing him or providing any opportunity for defense.
Shockingly, Soharab Barkat was detained again on November 26, 2025, while attempting to leave the country, after months of silence and legal harassment. Despite securing bail in one of the cases, authorities swiftly re-arrested him on the third case, demonstrating their relentless campaign to silence dissent and intimidate journalists. This is a clear assault on free speech and a disturbing abuse of power by the Pakistani regime.