Pakistan has reportedly restricted access to Al Jazeera after the Qatar-based broadcaster published a series of reports on anti-government protests and election-related unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), NDTV reports.

Although Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government has not formally announced a ban, users across the country reported difficulties accessing the broadcaster's English-language website, NDTV reports.

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting criticised what it described as Al Jazeera's “selective reporting”, accusing the outlet of presenting a distorted picture of the election process in the region, according to NDTV.

“We have taken note of Al Jazeera's selective reporting from handpicked polling stations in Muzaffarabad today. Through carefully chosen timings and scripted statements from selected individuals, the channel has sought to misrepresent the AJK elections and the voting process,” the ministry said in a post on X.

NDTV reported the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as criticising Pakistan over what it described as a widening crackdown on journalism, saying censorship appeared to be spreading beyond the region, citing reported restrictions on news outlets and prolonged telecommunications disruptions.

"Separately, unconfirmed reports suggest access to Al Jazeera has been restricted in Pakistan after the outlet reported from Kashmir on Aug 1. Media reports also indicate that a partial internet blackout and severe telecommunications restrictions have been in place across Pakistan-administered Kashmir since Jun 5," the organisation said.