JournalismPakistan.com | Published June 15, 2021
Join our WhatsApp channel
KARACHI—Eminent scholars and journalists have acknowledged that religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan have been overlooked in the country’s mainstream media. They expressed their views on the occasion of a two-day workshop on the media’s role in promoting interfaith harmony, organized by the Pak Institute of Peace Studies.
Journalist Veengas, who has extensively covered minority issues, stressed the need for mobilizing local media on faith pluralism and more coverage of religious minorities, saying that “Sindhi media is more conscious about covering the minorities-related issues.” However, Shahzada Zulfiqar, President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, highlighted that mainstream media was more interested in giving airtime to a politician’s private affairs rather than other significant matters.
Other speakers, including Zia Ur Rehman and Syed Arfeen, said that balanced reporting is essential for promoting equality, harmony, peace, and tolerance in society. They also stressed the need for the diversification of the newsrooms.
Veteran journalist Wusatullah Khan believed that Pakistani society had an inherent tendency to curtail people’s right to free expression on different pretexts. “Even the scanty freedoms that exist in some form in the country are also reserved for the dominant communities,” he stated, adding that “the members of minority groups have no say in the national discourse.”
Sabookh Syed, journalist and head of the Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan, emphasized that critical voices were muffled in Pakistan, and questions were turned down on the grounds of religious sensitivity or national security. According to the speakers, reporting priorities in the media industry is dictated by commercial interests rather than human rights or the public good.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.