JournalismPakistan.com | Published 10 years ago
Join our WhatsApp channel
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have expressed serious concerns over the recent state directives against upcoming television station, BOL News TV channel.
The IFJ and PFUJ have cautioned the government on the directives as they act as a form of censorship and impact on the jobs of hundreds of journalists, the IFJ said.
On May 28, the Federal Information Ministry wrote a letter to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) asking it to stop the broadcasting of BOL News until the completion of a criminal investigation into its parent company, Axact.
BOL TV, currently in test transmission, was established by the chief executive officer of Axact, Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh. The company is currently under investigation for alleged scams involving fake degrees through fake online universities.
More than 2,300 journalists and media staff are employed by BOL TV. The IFJ and the PFUJ said these employees face an uncertain future due to the controversy surrounding BOL’s parent company and government directives to stop its transmission. Some of BOL’s senior journalists resigned in protest at the scandal.
The PFUJ said: “We are concerned in regard to protection of jobs of journalists and media staff. We ask the government to refrain from taking any controversial action, which might hurt the cause of journalists and render them jobless.”
The IFJ Asia Pacific says the ministry’s order to stop the broadcasting of the TV channel was clearly a censorship issue.
“No media should be harassed or ordered to close down simply because its parent company or investors are under investigation. Journalists are facing uncertainty with their jobs, so urgent action is needed to ensure staff are protected or appropriately compensated if the impacts of the investigation result in a loss of jobs.
Meanwhile, on May 13, 2015, the Pakistan Press Council (PCP) wrote to the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) requesting it refrain from writing negative reports about Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The letter stated: “The Chairman, PCP has desired that while reporting on Yemen Crisis and Saudi Arabia … Acute case should be taken to avoid negative comments to ensure about our bilateral friendly relations with Arab countries are not adversely affected.”
It also spelt out Article 19 (freedom of expression) and Article 19A (right to information) to detail the exceptions to freedom of expression as an added emphasis to its directive.
The PFUJ and the IFJ strongly urge the Pakistan authority to refrain from any activities or directives aimed at gagging media freedom and to observe protections to freedom of expression enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution. - IFJ
October 30, 2025: The PFUJ has condemned a fabricated drug case against journalist Matiullah Jan, calling it an attempt to silence him and urging authorities to quash the charges immediately.
October 30, 2025: NewsOne TV remains on air but faces mass layoffs and delayed salaries, exposing Pakistan’s worsening media crisis and financial instability.
October 28, 2025: Sindh Police arrested four suspects linked to a banned outfit in the murder of journalist Imtiaz Mir, who was shot in Karachi in September 2025.
October 26, 2025: Riffat Ara Alvi, the mother of slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, has died, ending her relentless fight for justice following his killing in Kenya in 2022.
October 25, 2025: Veteran journalists and rights activists urge authorities to quash the fabricated drug case against Matiullah Jan, calling it an attack on media freedom.
October 24, 2025: PTV journalist Najam Wali Khan faces social media backlash after calling late SP Adeel Akbar a coward and a fool following his alleged suicide in Islamabad.
October 24, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com celebrates 16 years of independent reporting and media insight. Founded in 2009, the platform has weathered censorship, cyberattacks, and financial pressures to remain a trusted space for all who love and follow the media.
October 23, 2025: PFUJ calls for the immediate appointment of an ITNE judge, warning of a serious case backlog affecting journalists and media workers seeking justice across Pakistan.
October 30, 2025 PSL franchise fees lag far behind IPL's USD 18.5B valuation as Pakistan Cricket Board's bureaucratic grip stifles growth. Hard numbers expose a stark reality.
October 30, 2025 India’s government has proposed strict new rules mandating the labelling of AI-generated and deepfake media to curb misinformation and ensure content authenticity on social platforms.
October 30, 2025 Vietnamese authorities seize BBC journalist’s passport amid interrogation, sparking outrage as Hanoi leader To Lam visits the UK. Rights groups urge her release.
October 30, 2025 CDEPS and CPJ condemn the arrest of 7TV’s Maimouna Ndour Faye and other journalists in a late October crackdown on Senegalese media over interviews with a wanted politician.
October 29, 2025 In a historic first, a Bishkek court declares Kloop, Temirov Live, and their founders extremist, marking Kyrgyzstan’s sharpest assault on press freedom under President Japarov.