RIGHTS: THE GREAT FIREWALL OF PAKISTAN

Since the beginning of 2024, Pakistan has witnessed a rapid surge in the targeted killings of journalists, with at least eight lives claimed thus far. In May alone, four journalists were killed, the highest fatality count in a single month since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

In an ideal world, such a grim milestone would be followed by strong actions from the policymakers of the country. However, in Pakistan, the topic of discussion is not how to protect the lives of those who safeguard the public’s right to information, but the restriction of the flow of information itself.

This is the case with the deployment of the equivalent of the ‘Great Firewall of China’ in Pakistan, intended to monitor all online traffic.

Details of this firewall remain shrouded in secrecy, with officials tight-lipped on the matter and limited data availability in the public domain. There is scant information on its mechanics and dynamics.