Islamabad, Aug. 5 -- A coalition of 13 local and international civil society organisations, led by Amnesty International, has issued a joint appeal urging Pakistani authorities to immediately end growing restrictions on freedom of expression, press freedom, and human rights advocacy.

In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the coalition warned that "national security, public order and 'false information' must not become open-ended justifications for criminalising dissent, controlling newsrooms or disconnecting entire populations".

The advocacy groups highlighted a "broader pattern of using vague cybercrime provisions to criminalise protected ...