JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 16, 2020
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Dawn seemed visibly angry with the Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, telling him to keep his mouth shut for the good of the country.
In an editorial on Thursday, Boot theatrics, the paper maintained if the minister, known for such stunts, keeps his mouth shut, it will be a good omen for Pakistan. “Perhaps it is time Mr. Vawda zipped up his embarrassing rhetoric, laced up his misplaced exuberance and tied up his oversized ego. The country would be all the better for it.”
In the editorial seething with anger, the paper said: “Just when political observers thought that PTI maverick Faisal Vawda could not pull another rabbit out of his hat, he pulled out a boot instead. Then he placed it on the table, live on TV.”
On Tuesday, Vawda appeared on ARY News in Kashif Abbasi's program Off the Record alongside PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira and PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi. He used a military boot to heap scorn on the PPP and PML-N for voting in favor of the recently passed Army Act in the parliament. As the minister faced criticism from all politicians, journalists and others, he later appeared on Geo TV to say that it was entirely his act and that Prime Minister Imran Khan was not happy with him.
The editorial recalled the past stunts of the minister. “When he is not driving fast cars or riding big bikes, he is threatening to hang a few thousand people or promising more jobs than Pakistanis can handle. He also likes to stuff a weapon in his belt, don a flak jacket and rush to the scene of a terror attack in case his services are required.”
If this was not enough, the weekly column by Khurram Hussain—Vawda’s funny joke—said the minister made a clown of himself in the Kashif Abbasi’s now banned talk show. It was also beyond Hussain that Prime Minister Khan, who boasted about choosing his cabinet team on merit, would appoint a person like Vawda to take care of Pakistan’s water woes. “What possessed Imran Khan to appoint Faisal Vawda as minister for water only two weeks or so after giving a televised address in which he said water was the most serious challenge that he sees the country facing? What merit has Vawda brought to a ministry that oversees the country’s most important natural resource next to natural gas?”
Hussain concluded that Vawda has nothing to show for but a military boot in response to the challenge of water crisis in Pakistan. “Instead, what we have is Faisal Vawda as the minister for water, and he has brought nothing more than a boot to the table. So once we’re done cracking jokes, let’s ask one more time: what merit led to his appointment?”
Photo courtesy: Daily Times
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.