Consequence of broadcasting PoK repression; Pakistan bans Al Jazeera

Islamabad: After continuously broadcasting reports on anti-government protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Islamabad’s alleged brutal crackdown during the elections, Pakistan has imposed restrictions on the Qatar-based international media organization Al Jazeera.

Although the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has not yet made any official announcement regarding the ban, users across Pakistan have claimed that they are unable to access Al Jazeera’s English website. On the other hand, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has accused Al Jazeera of selective reporting and of presenting the election and voting process in a distorted manner.

In a statement issued on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, the ministry said that it had observed biased reporting by Al Jazeera from certain polling stations in Muzaffarabad. It alleged that the network deliberately chose specific timings and selectively used statements from certain individuals to defame the PoK elections. The government has also accused the media outlet of irresponsible journalism and spreading exaggerated information.