M. Ziauddin: highlights of an illustrious career

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published August 09, 2021

ISLAMABAD—M. Ziauddin sahib's struggle was not just with dictators; he put up with his fair share of irascible seniors and weak media owners.

Kamal Siddiqi, a former editor at The Express Tribune, who is currently the director of the IBA’s Center for Excellence in Journalism, wrote this in a comprehensive article published by samaa.tv.

“While working for nearly sixty years at almost all the major newspapers of the country—The Muslim, The News, DAWN, The Express Tribune—Ziauddin sahib has managed the nearly impossible: to maintain a blemish-free record throughout despite skirmishes with the high and mighty, including the once all-powerful General Pervez Musharraf,” he wrote. “In this age of ‘fake’ news, unverified reporting, and slippery ethics, it is worth examining the career of Muhammad Ziauddin, one of Pakistan's most respected names in journalism.”

Immediately after Ziauddin wrapped up his master’s degree in journalism in 1966, he launched a monthly news magazine called Pakistan Spotlight. However, after about four issues, the publisher ran out of funds, and they stopped printing.  Ziauddin then joined Pakistan’s only private news wire at the time, Pakistan Press Agency, which was later renamed Pakistan Press International. 

Being the cunning strategist, Gen Zia targeted the very unity of the PFUJ and broke it up by sowing seeds of discord within, the author stated. The time in London was productive and enjoyable for Ziauddin, as he broke some exclusives such as the deal between Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto, and he reported prolifically, Siddiqi wrote.

According to Siddiqi, Ziauddin's exit from The Express Tribune came in 2014 after the Express Media Group fought with the Jang Group following the Hamid Mir affair. There was a story on the Tribune front page in which a leading Geo TV anchor was accused of blasphemy. Ziauddin would not have any of it. “I had the best of rapport with the management, including owner Sultan Lakhani. I had advised them not to enter into a confrontation with the Jang Group and told them that Jang has great depth and would not be unseated easily.”

“...But the actions of the group disappointed Ziauddin. He quietly wrote his resignation and sent it across. To ensure there would be no confusion, he posted a tweet as well on July 1, 2014. And that was his clean exit.”

Siddiqi, in his article, also narrated some of very interesting socio-political events of the country witnessed by Ziauddin.  Some of those include: Censorship under Gen. Zia, Marshal law and Benazir’s entry, Junejo and the Geneva accord, riots at the US Cultural Center, meetings with Benazir, Mushrraf era and political tactics by Zardari.

Journalist Farhan Mallick remanded to FIA custody in fresh case

 March 26, 2025:  Karachi journalist Farhan Mallick has been remanded to FIA custody for five days in a new fraud case. The FIA alleges his involvement in a call center scam defrauding foreign nationals.

Court hands journalist Waheed Murad to FIA on two-day physical remand

 March 26, 2025:  A district court in Islamabad granted the FIA a two-day physical remand of journalist Waheed Murad. He was arrested under the PECA Act for sharing a report by exiled journalist Ahmad Noorani on social media. His arrest involved armed men in black uniforms, according to his family.

Gandapur promises to honor journalism hero Arshad Sharif

 March 25, 2025:  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has promised to name a journalism department in an educational institution after slain journalist Arshad Sharif. This follows a suggestion by analyst Ather Kazmi during an interview.

Pakistan's crackdown on journalism: IFJ demands Farhan Mallick's immediate release

 March 25, 2025:  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the arrest of Karachi journalist Farhan Mallick, founder of Raftar, demanding his immediate release. The PFUJ has also denounced the case, calling it an attack on press freedom in Pakistan.

'Who will be responsible if my sons are harmed?' mother pleads in court

 March 24, 2025:  Who will be responsible if my sons are harmed?" cries a mother in Islamabad High Court, pleading for justice after her sons' alleged abduction. The court summons the IG police over the alleged kidnapping. The family claims intelligence agencies are involved.

Puppet Press: How Pakistan's media sold its soul to the highest bidder

 March 24, 2025:  Explore the 10 critical reasons why Pakistan's legacy media continues to disappoint, from political bias and corporate influence to digital transition failures and unsustainable business models in Pakistani journalism.

State as judge: Dawn criticizes Farhan Mallick’s arrest under PECA

 March 22, 2025:  The arrest of journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick under PECA violations has sparked concerns over press freedom in Pakistan. Digital rights activists warn of increasing state suppression.

Outrage as Geo security guards attack workers protesting unpaid wages

 March 21, 2025:  Geo Group’s security guards allegedly led an assault on protesting journalists in Islamabad, dismantling their camp and threatening them. The hypocrisy of a media giant advocating press freedom while suppressing its workers is exposed.