Web Desk: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has lodged a formal protest and official complaint with BBC Urdu over a report concerning Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), accusing the broadcaster of publishing inaccurate and unverified information.
In a statement, the ministry said the report relied on allegations that lacked independent verification and failed to reflect official facts and statements available on the record.
According to the ministry, the report presented claims without sufficient corroboration while overlooking information provided by government authorities and relevant institutions.
The ministry expressed concern over what it described as a recurring pattern of reporting based on unverified claims. It said such reporting could mislead audiences and create confusion regarding developments in the region.
“The report relied on unverified and uncorroborated allegations while disregarding official facts and on-record statements,” the ministry said in its complaint.
Officials also argued that this was not an isolated incident. They said similar concerns had emerged in previous instances and called on the broadcaster to strengthen its editorial review and fact-checking processes.
Furthermore, the ministry urged BBC Urdu to take corrective measures and ensure that future reports involving sensitive issues meet professional standards of accuracy, balance and verification.
The complaint comes amid heightened scrutiny of media coverage related to Azad Kashmir, where authorities have recently rejected reports regarding road closures and security concerns.
Government officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of relying on verified information, particularly at a time when misinformation and digitally manipulated content can spread rapidly through social media and online platforms.
Neither BBC Urdu nor its parent organization immediately responded publicly to the ministry’s complaint.
The development highlights ongoing tensions between governments and media organizations over reporting standards, source verification and the handling of disputed or sensitive information.
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