AJK chief secretary's remarks raise press freedom concerns

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 November 2026 |  JP Staff Report

A social media video shows AJK chief secretary allegedly warning Geo News journalist Haider Shirazi in Parliament not to publicise their exchange, prompting journalists to warn the remark could intimidate reporters and undermine press freedom.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — A video circulating on social media has raised concerns about the treatment of journalists after the chief secretary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) reportedly cautioned Geo News journalist Haider Shirazi against making their exchange public during an encounter inside the Parliament.

The confrontation reportedly followed Shirazi's questions about the situation in Rawalakot and other developments in AJK. According to accounts accompanying the video on X on November 6, 2026, the official told the journalist that it would not be good if the recording appeared in the media or on social media. The reported warning has drawn criticism from journalists who argue that public officials should be prepared to answer questions without seeking to discourage their publication.

Questions over official conduct

The AJK government's chief secretary is retired Flight Lieutenant Khushal Khan. Social media accounts of the confrontation also describe an exchange in which the official accused the journalist of harassment. However, the complete conversation, its immediate circumstances, and any subsequent official response could not be independently established from the available reporting.

Earlier incidents involving the journalist

This is not the first time Shirazi has been at the center of a dispute over parliamentary reporting. In February 2023, Pakistan Press Foundation documented an encounter in Parliament involving Shirazi and then-AJK Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas. Shirazi alleged that the prime minister threatened him after a question about Kashmir and government performance. Accounts of the incident differed, and the foundation's documentation recorded conflicting assessments from journalists and union representatives.

JournalismPakistan reported on May 24, 2026, another controversy involving Shirazi. In that case, allegations surfaced that he had been removed from parliamentary coverage duties after questioning Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The report described a protest by parliamentary journalists but made clear that the allegations against those involved had not been independently verified.

The latest confrontation brings renewed attention to the difficulties journalists can face when questioning powerful officials, particularly on politically sensitive developments in AJK. It also raises questions about accountability within public institutions when disputes involving journalists occur in places intended to facilitate democratic scrutiny.

For journalists, the implications extend beyond one exchange. Officials' responses to questioning can influence whether reporters feel able to pursue sensitive subjects, challenge government accounts or publish information that authorities would prefer to keep out of public view.

The immediate questions are whether the AJK administration will clarify the chief secretary's remarks and whether the journalist will face any consequences for making the encounter public. Without those answers, the episode remains a matter of concern rather than evidence of any subsequent action against Shirazi.

ATTRIBUTION: Written by JournalismPakistan staff, based on social media accounts circulated November 6, 2026, and the AJK government's official listing of its chief secretary. Historical context draws on Pakistan Press Foundation's documentation of the February 8, 2023 incident and JournalismPakistan's earlier reporting in 2026. The complete video and an official response were not independently verified.

PHOTO: A screenshot from the video clip circulated on social media.