Pakistan's crackdown in PoK: How Islamabad is tightening information chokehold amid global scrutiny

Pakistan imposes strict restrictions on media (ANI photo) Pakistan's widening crackdown in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has drawn international attention, with members of the Kashmiri diaspora, rights groups and global watchdogs raising concerns over restrictions on journalists and media freedom.The measures, introduced by the Shehbaz Sharif government during the so-called assembly elections in the illegally-occupied Valley, have also been criticised by press freedom organisations.According to The New York Times, Pakistan has imposed strict rules requiring journalists working for foreign media outlets to seek government permission before travelling outside Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.The restrictions come amid increased media coverage of protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where demonstrators have been demanding greater political autonomy since early June.The NYT reported that the restrictions could severely affect independent reporting from Pakistan."Heavy local journalists say will close off one of the last remaining ways to get independent journalism about the world’s fifth-most-populous country," the report said.Pakistan has also ordered journalists working for foreign ...