JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 20, 2020
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD—Veteran journalist Muhammad Ziauddin on Friday angrily hit back at critics who questioned the journalists for becoming part of a petition challenging the PEMRA gag order on airing speeches of proclaimed absconders on electronic media.
In a tweet, Ziauddin alleged that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government was paying those trying to degrade journalists for becoming part of the petition. “Those trying to degrade the journalists who signed the HRCP/PFUJ petition as being in the pay of PMLN are not journalists themselves but salaried employees of PTI simply trying to earn their keep.”
Those trying to degrade the journalists who signed the HRCP/PFUJ petition as being in the pay of PMLN are not journalists themselves but salaried employees of PTI simply trying to earn their keep.
— Muhammad Ziauddin (@MuhammadZiauddi) November 20, 2020
In an earlier tweet, Dawn’s former resident editor defended his decision to be one of the petitioners to challenge the PEMRA ban in the Islamabad High Court.
The petition became controversial as the critics thought that the journalists had gone to court to get relief for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, convicted in a graft case and currently in London. The court has declared him an absconder.
However, the persistent backlash against journalists forced four of them—Zahid Hussain, Nasim Zehra, and Asma Shirazi—to withdraw their names from the petition.
Photo: Twitter (@@MuhammadZiauddi)
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.