Radio Free Asia suspends news operations amid US funding freeze CPJ calls on Pakistan to prosecute killers of journalist Imtiaz Mir PFUJ urges quashing of fabricated case against journalist Matiullah Jan PSL vs IPL: Franchise valuation gap reveals PCB's catastrophic mismanagement NewsOne TV hit by layoffs and unpaid wages, channel remains on air India proposes strict rules to label AI-generated media and deepfakes Vietnam detains BBC journalist, holds passport amid UK visit by Hanoi leader Senegal media crackdown: 7TV Director Maimouna Ndour Faye arrested in live broadcast raid Kyrgyzstan declares outlets Kloop and Temirov Live ‘extremist’ in unprecedented crackdown Babar Azam's form slump: Inside the psychological battle and classical crisis of Pakistan's cricket maestro

IFJ says it stands in solidarity with PTV anchors harassed at workplace

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 8 years ago

Join our WhatsApp channel

IFJ says it stands in solidarity with PTV anchors harassed at workplace

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have strongly condemned the recent incident of sexual harassment of female anchors at the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV). The IFJ has demanded an immediate investigation into the issue and appropriate action on the perpetrators.

Two journalists – Tanzeela Mazhar and Yashfeen Jamal – have accused PTV Lahore’s Director News of sexual harassment; and taken up social media and TV talk shows to push for investigation after their complaint to PTV authorities yielded no results. Mazhar alleged that she had filed a complaint following the incident, only to be told by the inquiry committee that she should have left the job in such a situation.

Mazhar reportedly said: “I have been associated with PTV for about 15 years. I have no issues with the work environment. It is him who is causing problem for women. Several women had complained about him previously, but later withdrew their complaints for one reason or another.”

Meanwhile, PTV management on January 23 slapped a ban on two anchors for taking to social media and appearing in talk shows to ‘defame the organization’.

The PFUJ said: "We demand that the PTV authorities look into the issue and hold an inquiry immediately so that the culprit can be punished and justice be provided to the women anchors."

This is not the first time that state-run TV has been embroiled in allegations of sexual harassment. In October, 2016, the Federal Ombudsperson Against Harassment of Women in the Workplace slapped a fine of Rs25,000 and censured PTV Director Athar Farooq Bhuttar over sexual harassment complaints filed by six female news anchors.

The IFJ said: “The IFJ lauds the courage of two news anchors who spoke out in seeking justice and stands in solidarity with them. Everyone deserves to work in a safe work environment regardless of their gender and for this reason sexual harassment in newsrooms cannot be tolerated. The IFJ demands a proper independent inquiry into the case to punish the culprits.”

Why was this DawnNews TV journalist targeted in a foiled murder plot?

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.

CPJ calls on Pakistan to prosecute killers of journalist Imtiaz Mir

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.

PFUJ urges quashing of fabricated case against journalist Matiullah Jan

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.

NewsOne TV hit by layoffs and unpaid wages, channel remains on air

October 30, 2025: NewsOne TV remains on air but faces mass layoffs and delayed salaries, exposing Pakistan’s worsening media crisis and financial instability.

Sindh Police arrest four suspects in journalist Imtiaz Mir murder case

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.

Justice denied: Mother of slain journalist Arshad Sharif dies awaiting accountability

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.

Journalists and rights activists demand withdrawal of fabricated case against Matiullah Jan

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.

PTV journalist faces backlash for calling late SP Adeel Akbar ‘coward and fool’

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.

Newsroom

Radio Free Asia suspends news operations amid US funding freeze

October 31, 2025 Radio Free Asia, a US government-funded broadcaster covering tightly controlled Asian media environments, has suspended all news operations after federal funding dried up.

PSL vs IPL: Franchise valuation gap reveals PCB's catastrophic mismanagement

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.

India proposes strict rules to label AI-generated media and deepfakes

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.

Vietnam detains BBC journalist, holds passport amid UK visit by Hanoi leader

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.

Senegal 7TV Director Maimouna Ndour Faye arrested in live broadcast raid

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.

Founded in 2009 by journalists Stephen Manuel and Imran Naeem Ahmad.

Disclaimer: The news content does not necessarily reflect the opinion and views of JournalismPakistan.com