Our Hall of Shame features stories highlighting shameful incidents within Pakistani media. From newspaper blunders and TV channel missteps to acts involving journalists and talk show guests, we expose it all. You'll find instances of fake news and other notable media errors, both recent and historical.
It's up to you, the readers, to decide who the shameless characters, organizations, or individuals are in these instances. We continuously update this section to maintain a comprehensive archive of these regrettable moments.
November 27, 2019: The News faces scrutiny after copying a Dawn story verbatim, including the reference to Dawn itself. The incident, involving PTI leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood's by-poll win, sparks accusations of plagiarism in Pakistani journalism and embarrasses the paper.
October 20, 2019: Aamir Liaquat Hussain, host of 'Public Sub Janti Hai' on Public News, sparks controversy by comparing journalist Raza Abid to Dracula on air. The comment, made during a segment on Maulana Fazlur Rehman's upcoming sit-in, draws condemnation from Shaharyar Khan, a former president of the National Press Club, who demands an apology from the network.
July 14, 2019: The News on Sunday publishes a picture of journalist Mariana Baabar Pashteen in an obituary for Zuhra Karim, the late editor of She magazine. The blunder mars a tribute to Karim, a pioneer in women's journalism in Pakistan. Using a living journalist's photo in place of a deceased editor reflects poorly on the newspaper's professionalism.
June 24, 2019: Masroor Ali Sial, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), attacked journalist and Karachi Press Club President Imtiaz Khan Faran during a heated debate on a live talk show. The video, widely shared on social media, shows Sial pushing Faran to the floor and punching him. The incident draws significant criticism towards PTI.
May 03, 2019: 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.
February 28, 2019: 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.
May 05, 2018: 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.
July 18, 2017: 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.
April 03, 2017: 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.
March 25, 2017: 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.
February 24, 2017: 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.
July 24, 2016: 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.
July 09, 2016: 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.
July 01, 2016: 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.
June 10, 2016: 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.
July 31, 2015: 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.
March 22, 2014: 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.
August 16, 2013: 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.
April 22, 2013: 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.
December 31, 2012: 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.