Sana Khan
17.9K posts









On #WorldPressFreedomDay, don’t forget #Balochistan, one of the toughest places in the world to be a journalist. Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International have both described it as one of the most difficult environments for journalists. According to the Balochistan Union of Journalists, more than 40 media workers were killed in Balochistan between 2008 and 2014. While killings have decreased in recent years, journalists continue to face immense pressure: fear of losing their jobs, digital surveillance, social discrediting, disinformation campaigns, misuse of AI, lack of insurance, low wages, conditional advertising for local newspapers, coercion, harassment of families, and the misuse of anti-terrorism laws. Ironically, what was once largely confined to Balochistan has now spread to the rest of Pakistan. Let’s stand united against all those forces that want to silence journalists through force, disinformation campaigns, AI, coercion, and the misuse of anti-terrorism laws.












⭕️One Constitution Avenue Pakistan’s political and media landscape has once again shown a rare unity in response to state action against elite interests. The redevelopment of One Constitution Avenue (Constitution One) in Islamabad has triggered widespread criticism framed around themes of “human rights,” “protection of investment,” and “political vendetta.” A closer examination of the case, however, reveals a long-standing issue of lease violations on prime public land. In 2005, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) awarded a 13.5-acre plot on Constitution Avenue to BNP Private Limited exclusively for the construction of a five-star hotel. The company subsequently developed the site into approximately 263 luxury residential apartments, deviating significantly from the original lease conditions. Current market values for these units range from PKR 75 million to well over PKR 100 million.Official records document clear ownership for only 63 apartments. The ownership status of the remaining nearly 200 units remains unverified, giving rise to persistent allegations of unauthorised construction, illegal occupation, and repeated breaches of lease terms. The Islamabad High Court had previously cancelled the lease and, on 1 May 2026, upheld the CDA’s decision to terminate it, citing the lessee’s failure to fulfil multi-billion-rupee financial obligations. Following the court order, the government initiated enforcement proceedings. The swift and vocal backlash appears to stem from the fact that the beneficiaries include prominent figures from across the political spectrum, among them Imran Khan (PTI) ,Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Shandana Gulzar Orakzai, Kashmala Tariq, Brig (R) Tahir, Jam Kamal, former caretaker Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Fazila Abbasi, and senior journalist Absar Alam. Critics have described the enforcement as political targeting. However, the underlying legal issues, diversion of public land from its designated commercial hotel purpose to unauthorised residential use, were never seriously contested during the years when the project was developed. For decades, enforcement actions have disproportionately affected lower-income communities, while high-profile encroachments often remained unchallenged. The One Constitution Avenue case represents one of the first instances in which regulatory action has simultaneously reached politicians, judges, bureaucrats, and media personalities. The federal government has established a high-level committee to review all documentation, hear affected parties, and ensure decisions are taken transparently and in accordance with the law. As stated by Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, enforcement against encroachments will apply equally, regardless of the status of the violator. This episode is not merely about individual properties; it concerns the consistent application of the rule of law, a principle frequently invoked in public discourse but rarely tested when elite interests are involved. Whether the current proceedings mark the beginning of genuine accountability or are perceived otherwise will depend on the transparency and fairness with which the committee conducts its work. #Pakistan @AbsarAlamHaider @UmarCheema1 @javeednusrat

