A series of cyberattacks disrupted multiple television channels and digital platforms across Pakistan, including major broadcasters Geo News and ARY News, raising serious cybersecurity concerns.
Reports indicate that the satellite frequencies of both channels were reportedly hacked, briefly showing unauthorized content before normal broadcasts were restored. Other websites and streaming platforms, including Tamasha, also experienced service interruptions.
Following the incidents, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) Pakistan launched a technical investigation into the attacks. Preliminary findings suggest attempts to compromise the streaming systems of several internet service providers, with satellite uplink interference also under review.
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja convened a high-level meeting to assess the scope of the attacks and coordinate a national response. Officials from the Ministry of IT, CERT Council, provincial CERT units, and sector-specific emergency response teams are participating to examine the technical nature of the incidents.
Sources indicate that organized hacker groups and hostile foreign actors may have been behind the cyberattacks. Although technical teams have restored the affected services, forensic analysis is ongoing. National CERT officials emphasized that no conclusions will be drawn until detailed reports are completed.
Authorities expect the final investigation report to outline security gaps and propose measures to strengthen protections for Pakistan’s broadcast and digital media infrastructure.
