From kidnapping to censorship: The ordeal of Sami Ibrahim

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 September 2024 |  JP Staff Report

Journalist Sami Ibrahim has faced significant challenges, including threats and censorship, over the past ten months. His experiences reflect the struggles of media professionals in Pakistan amidst increasing repression.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Well-known journalist Sami Ibrahim took to Twitter to share the relentless challenges he has faced over the past ten months, forced off the air in what seems to be a targeted attack on press freedom.

"I've been kidnapped, and threatened multiple times, and despite the Islamabad High Court's orders, my name remains on the Exit Control List (ECL). I was stopped at the airport and am not allowed to work at any channel. Wherever I tried to secure a job, the channel was warned it would face the same fate as Bol; their channel would be taken away from them," Sami Ibrahim revealed.

The reality of media repression in Pakistan is stark. The new management at BOL News, once his professional home, has been instructed not to pay his outstanding dues. "There's much more I could say, but..."

Despite these immense challenges, Sami Ibrahim's love for his country remains unshaken. "This is my country, and we all have to work together to fix it," he said, refusing to be bowed by the dark and discouraging times.

In his moment of despair, Sami found inspiration in the resilience of Imran Khan, who is currently confined in a small cell in Adiala Jail. Although the jail authorities have now barred him from attending the hearings of the Adiala cases, the sparkle in Khan's eyes, the resonance of his voice, and his mischievous smile that burns his enemies continue to fuel Sami’s resolve. "His towering determination, like the Himalayas, keeps me moving forward," he said.

Sami also paid tribute to Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife, for her unwavering loyalty and truthfulness. "It would be unfair and dishonest if I did not mention the unwavering loyalty and truthfulness with which Bushra Bibi has stood by Khan," he said, drawing a parallel between her steadfastness and the resilience required of journalists in these troubled times.

Sami Ibrahim’s story is not just a personal account but a reflection of the broader struggles faced by journalists in Pakistan. He concluded, with a note of hope, "God willing, the time of the people will come, and the rule of the common folk will prevail."