JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 20, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD – Senior Pakistani journalist Omar R Quraishi is a Twitter heavyweight with 114k followers. So when he casually tweeted this week about an Indian athlete winning the country's first bronze medal and how they would go on to portray that, it infuriated the neighbors.
“Finally one of the 119 competitors that India sent to Rio has won a medal – a bronze – now see how they portray it as if they won 20 golds,” tweeted Quraishi. This one tweet left the Indians bristling with anger.
The tweet even prompted Indian film great Amitabh Bachan to respond, with some tweeple making death threats to Quraishi, who is Editor Digital Properties with Samaa Television.
“This tweet has brought a disgraceful response from Indians and shows how intolerant they are,” Quraishi told JournalismPakistan.com Saturday. “I just stated a fact but for so doing I continue to be targeted on Twitter.”
He however, pointed out that many of the accounts hurling threats and criticizing him were new and went to show it was an organized campaign against him.
Quraishi bravely stood up to criticism though and chose to publish more ‘facts’ that made Indian Twitterati even more upset.
“For a population of over 1.25 billion India managed just one bronze medal – Norway with 5 million managed 2 — tch tch tch,” he quipped. “My timeline would suggest that there is something mentally wrong with many Indians - cannot take criticism even if it's well founded,” read another one of his Tweets.
Quraishi said he has never had such crazy response to his Tweets ever since joining the social media site in 2009.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
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.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.