JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 06, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD - Reacting to Najam Sethi’s assertion that courts do not have guts to handcuff and summon anchors for alleged defamation, Amir Mateen (pictured) Friday tweeted a link to a 1998 blog by Sethi where he harshly criticizes Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for corruption.
Mateen, an anchor with 92 News wondered: “Why couldn't someone handcuff Najam Sethi who now suggests that why ain't journalists arrested for criticizing NS http://najamsethi.com/1998/10/02/.”
In an earlier tweet he said: “How about you Najam making more lethal accusations about Hussain Nawaz on flats and asking why SC not taking notice,” referring to the same post.
Sethi, who was Punjab’s caretaker chief minister during the 2013 General Elections, complained about media in his January 2 program Aapas ki Baat on Geo TV. Saying that media created hype over Dawn Leaks, he added now TV anchors can create a scandal anytime. Talking about an anchor he did not name, Sethi said he repeated all questions and statements against the Prime Minister in the Panama case, but did not utter a word against Imran Khan, chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. “Media has completely gone haywire.”
As Muneeb Farooq, the program host, talked about black sheep in the media, Sehti said courts do not have guts to handcuff and summon those “black sheep”.
The blog on http://www.najamsethi.com/1998/10/02/ - Truth will out – quotes The Observer London’s cover story alleging the Sharif family owns flats in London. Sethi in his blog said: “Latest revelations by Rehman Malik, a former senior FIA officer, now show Mr Sharif out to be a plunderer at par with the likes of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari.”
He wrote: “The Sharifs have complained about The Observer’s misconduct to the Press Council of Britain. But it is revealing that their complaint does not say a single word of defense against the substantial charges leveld by The Observer — money laundering, front accounts, secret properties, offshore companies, the works.”
The January 2 Aapas ki Baat was criticized by Amir Liaquat Hussain on Bol TV in which he repeatedly called Sethi Chiri Baba, making fun of his source – the charia (sparrow).
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.