Zahid Hussain leaving Samaa

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 11 years ago

KARACHI: Zahid Hussain, Director News at Samaa TV has decided to bid adieu to the channel after an association that spanned two years.

Insiders tell JournalismPakistan.com Zahid will be replaced by Farhan Mallick who has been with the group for a considerably long time delivering favorable results at CNBC Pakistan/Jaag in his capacity as Director News and Programming.

Zahid took over Samaa's news department at a difficult juncture managing it quite competently. His vast experience and calculated tact has been instrumental in bringing stability to Samaa's news.

He now plans to explore new avenues and opportunities.

Zahid's colleagues are to host a farewell lunch on December 30 in Karachi. The same day Farhan will formally take over.

Pakistan to launch BEEP secure messaging app for officials

December 17, 2025: Pakistan plans to launch the BEEP secure messaging app for government officials by June 2026, modeled on WeChat, with end-to-end encryption and oversight by NITB.

GTV News confers vice president title on Gharidah Farooqi

December 17, 2025: GTV News announces the ceremonial appointment of senior anchor Gharidah Farooqi as Vice President, citing her professionalism, credibility, and contributions to Pakistani television journalism.

Court reserves decision on Matiullah Jan narcotics charges

December 17, 2025: Islamabad court reserves decision on journalist Matiullah Jan’s request to drop narcotics charges, with defense citing lack of evidence and prosecutors opposing the plea.

Arshad Sharif widow reports escalating harassment in Islamabad

December 17, 2025: Widow of slain journalist Arshad Sharif says harassment is escalating in Islamabad as she seeks justice, citing slow investigations and renewed safety concerns after court findings.

HRCP warns ad ban on Dawn threatens press freedom

December 16, 2025: HRCP warns of shrinking press freedom in Pakistan after a reported ban on government advertisements to Dawn Media Group, calling the move coercive and discriminatory.

Pakistan’s ad ban on Dawn sparks media freedom concerns

December 14, 2025: Dawn Media Group says Pakistan has imposed an unannounced ban on government advertising, drawing condemnation from media bodies over press freedom and independent journalism.

PFUJ raises alarm over pressure on Dawn Media Group

December 14, 2025: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemns the advertising ban on Dawn Media Group, warning that it threatens press freedom and calls on the government to restore ads immediately.

Media bodies condemn ad ban on Dawn TV and radio

December 13, 2025: Pakistani media bodies have condemned the government’s unannounced ban on advertisements to Dawn Media Group’s TV and radio outlets, calling it an attack on press freedom.

Newsroom

Myanmar journalist jailed 13 years over reporting ahead of elections

December 17, 2025 Myanmar freelance reporter Sut Ring Pan sentenced to 13 years for reporting on the military ahead of elections, highlighting press freedom challenges and journalist detentions

Yalda Hakim warns of a second deepfake video shared online

December 17, 2025 Journalist Yalda Hakim says a second AI deepfake video falsely portraying her reporting has circulated online, highlighting growing risks of misinformation targeting journalists in Pakistan.

Russia labels Deutsche Welle undesirable in media crackdown

December 16, 2025 Russia has declared German broadcaster Deutsche Welle an undesirable organization, criminalizing cooperation and deepening restrictions on independent media in a widening press freedom crackdown.

Tunisia journalists' union flags widening repression of media

December 16, 2025 Tunisia journalists' union warns authorities are increasingly detaining and prosecuting reporters outside press law protections, signaling a broader crackdown on media freedom and dissent.

RSF condemns Lai verdict, cites Hong Kong press freedom slide

December 16, 2025 RSF condemns the Lai verdict as a sham trial and highlights Hong Kong’s fall to 140th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, warning of rising risks for journalists.