The Express Tribune removes Fahd Husain's article from website

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 13 April 2015

Fahd Husain's article was removed from The Express Tribune after a government official deemed it too provocative. The piece criticized the UAE's comments on Pakistan's foreign policy and employed offensive language towards Arab leaders.
Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Express Tribune has removed an article written by Fahd Husain (pictured) from its website reportedly on the request of a government official as it was deemed to be “too provocative and insulting to Sheikhs of Arab states.”

Husain is the Executive Director News at Express News Television and is a regular columnist for The Express Tribune, the group's English-language daily.

In his article - The sweet sound of a glorious oil-drenched slap - Fahd lambasted the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash for his comments against Pakistan,

“Husain has used some obnoxious words like ‘oil-spoilt sheikhs,’ ‘tin-pot Arab rulers,’ ‘piddling Sheikhs,’ and ‘vomited a gem,’ in his article and this may have forced a top government official to request the Tribune management to remove the article from the web,” a source told JournalismPakistan.com.

The writer criticised Gargash over his interview to Khaleej Times wherein he termed Pakistan’s neutral stand on Yemen crisis as “laggard impartial stand,” and even threatened the country of dire consequences.

The article has been removed from the web but can still can be read on e-paper.

Key Points

Fahd Husain's article criticized UAE Minister Dr Anwar Gargash.
The article was removed on request from a government official.
Husain used provocative language that included terms like 'oil-spoilt sheikhs.'
The piece discussed Pakistan's neutral stance on the Yemen crisis.
Despite the removal, the article remains accessible in e-paper format.

Relevant Topics

Fahd Husain

THE Express Tribune

Article Removal

Government Censorship

UAE Minister

Journalism

Ask AI: Understand this story your way

AI Enabled

Dig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.

Language

Format

Tone

Audience

Focus

Reading level

Length

The AI generates results based on your selected options

Your AI-generated results will appear here after you click the button.

Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.

Dive Deeper

Why social media is a battleground for Pakistani journalists

April 22, 2026: Pakistani journalists' social media presence has moved professional disputes into public view, amplifying conflicts and blurring lines between reporting and branding.

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

April 19, 2026: Pakistan's media faced regulatory scrutiny, leadership changes and digital consolidation, highlighting industry stress and rising international recognition.

Five stories showing pressure on Pakistan media

April 13, 2026: Five incidents show growing legal, economic and state pressure on Pakistan's media, from cybercrime cases and opaque ads to layoffs and access constraints.

A global story, locally missing: Pakistan media under scrutiny

April 12, 2026: Pakistan's media received global attention during Iran-US talks in Islamabad but mostly ran agency tickers and official optics, exposing gaps in beat reporting.

Islamabad Talks: Access is the first casualty of journalism

April 12, 2026: As US-Iran talks in Islamabad concluded, journalists reported that tight security and enforced perimeters limited direct access and source engagement, constraining real-time reporting.

Pakistan journalists flag access issues at Iran-US talks

April 11, 2026: Pakistani journalists say they faced restricted access and unequal accreditation at Iran-US diplomatic events, citing limited communication by media teams.

Pakistan opens visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists

April 10, 2026: Pakistan will allow visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists and delegates attending the Islamabad Talks 2026; local media reportedly face restrictions on live reporting.

Pakistan assembly queries on ad spending go unanswered

April 07, 2026: Lawmakers received no answers from Pakistan's Information Ministry on media ad spending, raising concerns over transparency in allocation of public funds.

Newsroom

Journalist detention signals rising press curbs in Tunisia

April 25, 2026 A prominent Tunisian journalist was detained after publishing a critical commentary of the judiciary, prompting condemnation and renewed concerns over shrinking media freedom.

US-led crackdown dismantles cyber scam networks in Asia

April 25, 2026 A U.S.-led operation dismantled transnational cyber scam networks in Cambodia and Myanmar, leading to arrests, sanctions, and seizure of recruitment platforms.

Pakistan arrests journalist Fakhar ur Rehman in PECA probe

April 24, 2026 Senior journalist Fakhar ur Rehman has been arrested in a PECA case registered by NCCIA, with multiple journalists named and questions raised over due process and transparency.

Argentina curbs media access over smart glasses footage row

April 24, 2026 Argentina barred journalists from Casa Rosada after TV aired alleged covert wearables footage, citing security concerns and provoking press freedom criticism.

Gharidah Farooqi case sparks arrests over online harassment

April 24, 2026 Authorities arrested suspects and opened cases after Gharidah Farooqi complained of coordinated gender-based online harassment; the cybercrime agency preserved evidence.