Media Hall of Shame

 Published 6 years ago:  Leading newspaper Dawn points to growing censorship in Pakistan, noting unprecedented pressure on editors to suppress stories and manipulate news angles. In an editorial, the paper condemns tactics such as smear campaigns, violence, abductions, and legal harassment used to silence dissenting voices.

 Published 6 years ago:  False videos, images, and messages circulate widely on social media amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Fact-checkers are overwhelmed as misinformation spreads, exacerbating anger and fear in both countries. Social media becomes a hotbed of unverified news, pictures, and video clips.

 Published 7 years ago:  May 2018: Sixteen news channels, among them Geo, Dunya, and Samaa get fined Rs1 million each for airing false news claiming the Lahore High Court imposed a ban on speeches by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. Regulator PEMRA issues show-cause notices to the erring channels and orders they broadcast apologies during prime time.

 Published 8 years ago:  Dunya Television and DawnNews aired false reports about 158 Indian soldiers being killed in a clash with China in Sikkim, sparking condemnation from Chinese media and the Indian foreign ministry. The incident highlights the issue of fake news and the need for responsible journalism.

 Published 8 years ago:  Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issues a show-cause notice to Channel 92 News for airing a two-year-old clip of a Karachi school function as breaking news. The regulator accuses the channel of misleading viewers by implying indecent activities in schools. The school demands action against the reporter.

 Published 8 years ago:  Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issues show-cause notices to nine TV channels for airing baseless news regarding a plane crash near Rawalpindi's Kallar Syedan and face fines of Rs one million each. The channels broadcast the erroneous report between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm violating regulatory standards.

 Published 8 years ago:  A shocking blunder and collective shame for Pakistani media as 29 TV channels, including Geo, Dunya, and ARY, receive PEMRA notices for spreading false news about a bomb blast in Lahore, highlighting the urgent need for media accountability and ethical reporting.

 Published 9 years ago:  Media outlets run investigative journalist Asad Kharal's images while reporting on the arrest of a namesake in Sindh. Channel 5 Television and Dunya newspaper link Kharal to a different individual arrested by paramilitary Rangers in Hyderabad. The news organizations apologize and Kharal cautions against solely relying on sources like Google for reporting.

 Published 9 years ago:  Express News TV faces backlash after a reporter's unethical live report from Abdul Sattar Edhi's grave. Social media erupts, prompting the channel to apologize and vow corrective action. The incident sparks a widespread debate on journalistic standards.

 Published 9 years ago:  Sahib Khan, a senior reporter at the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in Karachi, accuses his bureau chief of pressuring him to retract allegations of discrimination based on religion. Khan claims he was barred from using the same utensils and drinking water as Muslim colleagues after they discovered his Hindu faith.

 Published 9 years ago:  Rights activist Marvi Sirmed accuses JUIF leader Hafiz Hamdullah of abuse during the recording of a News One TV program. She describes the incident as 'traumatic,' detailing Hamdullah's offensive outburst and attempted assault.

 Published 10 years ago:  The News journalist Amir Mir is accused of plagiarizing work by Newsweek Pakistan reporter Benazir Shah in an article on Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader Malik Ishaq. Shah highlights the issue on Facebook, noting entire passages were copied without attribution. Shame on The News journalist.

 Published 11 years ago:  Almost a quarter of the front page of the International New York Times' Asian edition, accompanying The Express Tribune, is left blank for Pakistani readers, omitting a picture of two young men in Quetta, allegedly Taliban, and Carlotta Gall's story 'What Pakistan Knew About Bin Laden.' The story, denied by ISPR, is conspicuously absent.

 Published 12 years ago:  For five hours a single gunman holds Islamabad hostage, captivating television viewers with a bizarre and insulting confrontation. The media's sensationalist coverage of the standoff raises serious ethical concerns. Instead of responsibly reporting the incident, channels compete for ratings, broadcasting every moment live.

 Published 12 years ago:  Following a Supreme Court order, a list of journalists benefiting from Pakistan's Information Ministry's secret fund under the PPP-led government from 2011 to 2012 is disclosed. The disclosure aims to probe government allocations and scrutinize media ethics. It highlights transparency issues and ethical lapses in media governance.

 Published 12 years ago:  The year 2012 saw Pakistan's electronic media marred by scandals, from a disgraced televangelist's comeback to TV anchors embroiled in controversies and accusations of bribery, plagiarism, and unethical behavior. These incidents expose the deep-seated issues and lack of integrity within the media industry.

 Published 12 years ago:  The Nation stirs controversy by publishing a front-page photograph deemed highly insensitive. It runs an image of Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister, struggling for life after being targeted by a Taliban suicide bomber in Peshawar. The graphic picture on Sunday's front page draws criticism for its lack of professional judgment.

 Published 13 years ago:  Reports of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's plan to distribute cash among journalists cause divisions in Peshawar's journalistic community. The scheme, allegedly aimed at favoring certain journalists and avoiding negative press, is scrapped after PFUJ condemns it as a bribery attempt. Despite the cancellation, many journalists remain upset over their exclusion.

 Published 13 years ago:  A scandal involving Dunya TV anchors Meher Bukhari and Mubashar Lucqman sends shockwaves through Pakistan's media landscape. Leaked footage exposes the duo's participation in a staged interview with property tycoon Malik Riaz, revealing a blatant disregard for journalistic integrity.

 Published 13 years ago:  There's public outcry over the media's failure to properly cover the tragic burial of 138 Pakistan Army soldiers under an avalanche at Siachen Glacier. Initial shock turns to anger as national dailies bury the story and electronic media barely mention it, focusing instead on political scandals.