Maleeha Lodhi

Maleeha Lodhi obtained her Ph.D in Politics from the London School of Economics in 1980, having received her B.Sc (Econ) from the same institution in 1976.

She taught Politics and Sociology at the London School of Economics for five years, 1980-85, before returning home to embark on what was to be a remarkable career in journalism.

She also briefly taught for a year at the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, in the Department of Public Administration.

Dr Maleeha’s journalistic career spanned eight years in which she edited two of Pakistan's major English daily newspapers - The News, which she helped launch, and The Muslim (now defunct).

She became the first woman in all of Asia to be the editor of a daily paper. Her outspoken views and incisive analyses quickly took her to the very top of the profession as an outstanding professional as well as a crusader of democracy.

Dr Maleeha is a Fellow of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics. In February 1994, she was cited for a top journalistic award by APNS (All Pakistan Newspaper Society) for a feature she had co-authored with a fellow Pakistani newsman.

In December 1994 she was selected (the only one from Pakistan) by Time magazine as one of the hundred global pacesetters or young leaders who the magazine said would help define the next century.

Back

Omar Kureishi (1928-2005)

Omar Kureishi was a distinguished Pakistani writer. He worked in advertising, aviation and journalism, writing for many newspapers, including Dawn, The Pakistan Times, Morning News and The Guardian, London.

Safdar Mir (1922-1998)

Born in Lahore, Mohammad Safdar Mir was respected and feared for his encyclopedic knowledge, making his mark as a poet and playwright. He acted on stage in both Bombay and Lahore

Gul Hameed Bhatti (1947-2010)

Gul Hameed Bhatti was a top ranked cricket journalist and statistician. He also loved flying and was a commercial pilot with the Pakistan International Airlines between 1968 and 1971.

Majeed Lahori (1913-1957)

Majeed Lahori, born Abdul Majid Chohan in 1913 in Gujrat, was truly a people's columnist, according to Khalid Hasan, adding what he wrote remains as delightful today as it was then.

Hameed Nizami (1915-1962)

Hameed Nizami was an eminent journalist. He was the founder of the Urdu newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt, and played an important role in the Pakistan Movement. He was born on October 3, 1915 at Sangla Hill

Abdullah Malik (1920-2003)

Journalist, writer and political activist, Abdullah Malik wrote in his book Purani Mehfilain Yaad aa Ra'hi Ain: "I can declare with pride that I have spent my entire life wedded to the same commitment

Anwar Ali (1922-2004)

Anwar Ali, creator of famous character Nanna, was the first newspaper cartoonist associated with The Pakistan Times. Born on April 18, 1922 in Ludhiana, his association with this newspaper

Razia Bhatti (1944-1996)

Razia Bhatti has been described as a crusader, a torch-bearer, and a symbol of courage. In 1996, the Pakistan Press Foundation called her untimely death at the age of 52 an 'end of a golden chapter of journalism in Pakistan.'

Newsroom

Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj marks 1,000 days jailed

December 24, 2025 Kashmiri journalist Irfan Meraj has spent over 1,000 days in detention by Indian authorities in Kashmir, renewing concerns over press freedom and legal pressure on independent media.

South Korea passes tougher penalties for false media reports

December 24, 2025 South Korea’s parliament passed a law imposing tougher penalties on the media for false information, raising concerns from journalists over press freedom and investigative reporting.

Israel extends foreign media restriction law to 2027

December 24, 2025 Israel’s Knesset has extended emergency legislation allowing limits on foreign media outlets until 2027, prompting renewed concern from press freedom groups over long-term impacts on reporting.

CPJ urges probe into attacks on Bangladesh media

December 24, 2025 Press freedom groups led by CPJ call for swift, transparent investigations into attacks on Bangladesh media, warning that violence against news outlets threatens free expression ahead of elections.

China bans obscene content sharing on private messaging

December 24, 2025 China has introduced new rules banning the sharing of obscene content on private messaging platforms, raising concerns among media analysts over censorship, privacy, and digital news circulation.