Talat Hussain says offensive viral clip was edited out, not aired on Samaa TV
November 04, 2025: Talat Hussain denies airing the viral clip showing Sher Afzal Marwat’s vulgar remark, saying it was not part of his Samaa TV show.
JournalismPakistan.com | Published 8 years ago
Join our WhatsApp channel
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed serious concerns over the act of the regional authorities that has forced the closure of all local newspapers in the remote, mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan territory.
On March 21, all local newspapers in Gilgit-Baltistan suspended publication for an indefinite period as a protest against nonpayment of advertisement bills by the regional authorities and changes in rules which amounted to gagging the press.
The newspapers in the remote northern-most part Pakistan largely depend on government advertisements for survival. The newspapers said they would remain shut until their dues were cleared and changes introduced in the rules adversely affecting the media industry.
The newspapers closed down include Roznama K-2; Ausaf; Badshamal; Mohasib; Bedar; Himalaya Today; Daily Tarjman; Daily Cargil; Roznama Azaan; Roznama Salam; Sada-i-Gilgit; JB, Express; Siachin; Himalaya and Wateen. The jobs of more than 2000 working journalists are at risk due to this shutdown.
According to reports, the Gilgit-Baltistan Newspapers Society (GBNS) accused the regional government of using various tactics including filing cases and arresting journalists, intended to close down the media industry in the region. GBNS Secretary Ashraf Ashoor told Pakistan Today that the regional government also tried to curtail media freedom by issuing notices to media organizations with an intention to either completely control local media or close them down.
Journalists across the country are observing April 1 as a ‘Black Day’ to protest against the repressive move of the government. - IFJ media release/Image courtesy: friendlymela.com
November 04, 2025: Talat Hussain denies airing the viral clip showing Sher Afzal Marwat’s vulgar remark, saying it was not part of his Samaa TV show.
November 03, 2025: PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day under Musharraf, urging protection for journalists and the abolition of laws threatening press freedom.
November 02, 2025: PFUJ urges Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments to end Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and ensure their safety and press freedom.
November 02, 2025: Impunity for crimes against journalists deepens worldwide as Pakistan reports a 60 percent surge in attacks and weak enforcement of safety laws.
November 01, 2025: Pakistan Press Foundation reports 137 attacks on journalists in 2025, highlighting rising threats, legal harassment, and censorship on the International Day to End Impunity.
November 01, 2025: A viral Samaa TV clip featuring MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s crude remarks and Talat Hussain’s laughter raises questions about the declining ethics of Pakistani television.
October 31, 2025: Police foiled a plot to kill DawnNewsTV journalist Tahir Naseer in Rawalpindi after arresting suspects hired for Rs200,000. Naseer says threats followed his reporting.
October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.
November 05, 2025 The Pulitzer Center is offering global reporting grants for journalists worldwide, funding high-impact projects on underreported issues with rolling applications in 2025.
November 04, 2025 Journalist Rana Ayyub receives death threats over calls demanding a column on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as CPJ urges swift action to protect journalists in India.
November 04, 2025 TV8 journalist Mariana Rata in Moldova receives a death threat after interviewing politician Renato Usatii on-air, raising concerns about journalist safety.
November 03, 2025 Global journalist unions condemn the Indonesian agriculture minister’s lawsuit against Tempo, calling it a threat to press freedom and demanding that the case be withdrawn.
November 02, 2025 Independent outlet All About Macau to halt print and online operations amid rising pressure, financial strain, and legal threats, sparking press freedom concerns in the city.