Maleeha Hashmey alleges state harassment, travel ban, and SIM blocking

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last month |  JP Staff Report

ISLAMABAD — Broadcast journalist Maleeha Hashmey has alleged continued state-led restrictions and harassment, citing a series of punitive actions taken against her over the past two years.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Hashmey wrote: "Two and a half years ago, my name was put on the No-Fly list. I was taken off from TV for the third time. Then, 10 months ago, my personal and my company's bank accounts were frozen. Yesterday, both of my SIMs were blocked. If the rulers are so afraid of a journalist, how much must they fear Imran Khan?"

Hashmey, who previously hosted Power Show on Public News TV, has been a vocal supporter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the PTI. In April 2022, she announced that the channel had taken her off air for allegedly refusing to criticize Khan at a time when his government was under increasing political pressure.

Her outspoken stance has placed her in the spotlight both among supporters and critics. During a session of the National Assembly, the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) accused her of misconduct in the press gallery, claiming she had insulted and harassed senior journalists while chanting slogans in support of Khan. The PRA issued a statement saying, “Nobody is allowed to chant slogans in the press gallery, but Maleeha Hashmey was involved in insulting and harassing the journalists there.”

The allegations highlight the growing polarization within Pakistan’s media, where journalists are increasingly divided along political lines. While supporters hail Hashmey as a fearless voice challenging state pressure, critics accuse her of crossing professional boundaries.

Her claims of being targeted through travel restrictions, financial blocks, and communication blackouts also underscore broader concerns about press freedom in Pakistan, where independent and opposition-aligned journalists often face censorship, intimidation, or legal hurdles.