JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 04, 2014
Join our WhatsApp channel
Reporters Without Borders has urged the authorities in Pakistan to provide protection to Geo News Television's Controller News Ansar Ali Naqvi following threats by Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ).
Naqvi has been the target of a campaign of threats since 31 January because he failed to provide life coverage of one of its meetings in Karachi, preferring to broadcast former President Pervez Musharraf’s trial.
“We urge the authorities to provide Naqvi with protection without delay, and we call on Geo News to do everything possible to ensure that he is safe,” said Benjamin Ismaïl, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Asia-Pacific desk.
“We firmly condemn ASWJ’s campaign of intimidation. Trying to make a news organization cover one event rather than another constitutes an attack on freedom of information. These actions must stop, and a thorough investigation must be carried out to identify those responsible.”
Naqvi told Reporters Without Borders he received a threatening call from ASWJ spokesman Akber Saeedi on the evening of 31 January trying to get Geo News to break away from the Musharraf trial to cover his organization’s meeting. Naqvi refused, pointing out that banner text across the foot of the screen was providing information about ASWJ’s meeting.
Regarding Naqvi’s refusal as an insult, ASWJ’s leaders posted his name and phone number on social networks along with calls for reprisals. As a result, he received hundreds of SMS texts threatening him and his family.
A new minutes after Saeedi and Naqvi spoke by phone, the Geo News Karachi bureau chief notified Naqvi that shots had been fired at the Geo News crew attending the ASWJ meeting and that the journalists had fled.
Naqvi has asked social networks to remove his contact details, which were posted without his permission. “I think I was targeted because of my profession as a journalist but also because I am Shiite,” he said. ASWJ is known in Pakistan for its hostility towards the Shiite community.
Pakistan is ranked 159th out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. - Reporters Without Borders
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.