JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 09, 2021
Join our WhatsApp channel
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.
December 05, 2024: UNESCO and IRADA hosted a national consultation in Islamabad, calling for inclusive Internet governance reforms in Pakistan to protect digital rights, freedom of expression, and access to information through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
December 04, 2024: A viral video claiming journalist Matiullah Jan was expelled from PMA has been debunked by iVerify Pakistan. The video, edited with AI, originates from the drama serial Ehd-e-Wafa.
November 30, 2024: Journalist Matiullah Jan has been released from Adiala Jail after securing bail, ending fears of a potential transfer to Attock Jail. He expressed gratitude to supporters and shared light-hearted moments about his custody.
November 30, 2024: Daily Dawn condemns the arrest of journalist Matiullah Jan as a misuse of the law. The editorial highlights concerns over the state's weaponization of legal provisions against journalists, activists, and dissenters.
November 30, 2024: The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to journalist Matiullah Jan in a case involving drugs and terrorism charges. He was released on a surety bond of PKR 10,000 following the suspension of his physical remand by the Islamabad High Court.
November 29, 2024: The Lahore High Court has ordered the production of journalist Shakir Mahmood Awan’s alleged kidnapper by Monday while summoning IG Punjab and demanding CCTV footage from Safe City.
November 29, 2024: Suno TV faces criticism for targeting senior journalist Matiullah Jan with a smear campaign following his controversial abduction and arrest. This raises serious concerns about media ethics and press freedom in Pakistan.
November 29, 2024: WISPAP has requested the Ministry of Interior to extend the deadline for VPN registration in Pakistan, citing the need to ensure compliance amid increasing VPN usage after platform bans.
December 05, 2024 Over 50 journalists protested in Kuala Lumpur against proposed amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which threaten press freedom. IFJ and NUJM urge the government to withdraw the bill and engage in stakeholder consultation.
December 04, 2024 The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 faces uncertainty as Pakistan's hosting rights clash with India's refusal to participate. A political and financial standoff unfolds.
December 03, 2024 Submit your work for the Global Shining Light Award by February 28, 2025. Celebrate investigative journalism from the Global South at the Kuala Lumpur conference.
November 21, 2024 Investigative journalist Rana Ayyub received over 200 threats after her phone number was leaked on social media by a right-wing content creator. IFJ and IJU demand Maharashtra authorities take immediate action against those responsible for this targeted online harassment.
November 20, 2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany is accepting applications for its 2025 Berlin Fellowship Program, offering journalists from crisis areas six months of digital security training, networking opportunities, and more.