Ishrat Fatima reveals painful exit from Radio Pakistan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 January 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Ishrat Fatima said she began her television and radio career in 1983 and remained committed to news broadcasting for over four decades. She described repeated workplace resistance and a lack of merit-based assessment that led her to leave Radio Pakistan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Renowned broadcaster Ishrat Fatima has publicly explained the circumstances that led her to leave Radio Pakistan after a career spanning more than four decades, describing a painful separation from an institution she once regarded as her professional home.

In a short video shared on social media, Fatima said she began her career in television and radio in 1983 and remained devoted to news broadcasting throughout her working life. She described news as her lifelong passion and said she remained grateful to Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan for providing her with a platform to serve audiences across the country.

Professional dedication and legacy

Fatima said she always treated her work as a priority and believed she gave her best to broadcasting, adding that financial reward was never her primary motivation. She noted that even after stepping away, audiences continue to recognize and value her work, which she described as a meaningful achievement.

She said her expectation was to be allowed to continue working with professional space and respect, particularly given her seniority and long service. According to Fatima, difficulties arose when she felt she was no longer assessed on merit and instead encountered resistance that she characterized as professional hostility.

Struggles within the institution

Fatima said she waited for a long period in the hope that conditions might improve and that she would once again be able to perform her duties without obstruction. She described repeated signals that her services were no longer required, which she said gradually eroded her sense of belonging within the organization.

She said the decision to resign was made with deep emotional distress. While acknowledging that Radio Pakistan had been her source of livelihood, she said the institution itself functioned as an impersonal structure rather than a place capable of empathy or understanding toward long-serving professionals.

Painful departure and reflection

In the video, Fatima appeared visibly emotional as she reflected on her departure, saying the experience left her in great pain. She expressed regret that her efforts to uphold the reputation of the organization did not translate into lasting professional security or recognition at the end of her career.

She said some viewers might ridicule or dissect her video, but added that she shared it in the hope that people would understand her pain and emotional state.

ATTRIBUTION: Information in this story is based on Ishrat Fatima’s publicly shared video statement on social media and her own account of events.

PHOTO: Screenshot from Ishrat Fatima’s publicly shared video

KEY POINTS:

• Began career in television and radio in 1983 and served for more than four decades.
• Expressed gratitude to Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan for early opportunities.
• Said she prioritized professional dedication over financial reward and retained public recognition.
• Reported facing professional hostility and a decline in merit-based assessment.
• Waited for conditions to improve but ultimately felt signals that her services were no longer required.