PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007 emergency as Pakistan’s darkest day
November 03, 2025: PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day under Musharraf, urging protection for journalists and the abolition of laws threatening press freedom.
JournalismPakistan.com | Published last year | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Geo News anchors Huma Shah and Abdullah have expressed strong criticism over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's decision to use the banned social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his condolences for the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Karachi. During their morning show Geo Pakistan, the anchors questioned how the Prime Minister could access and use a platform banned for the rest of the country since February.
Shah and Abdullah raised concerns over the government’s selective use of the platform, pointing out that if the platform is banned for the general public, it should also be off-limits to government officials. “He could have used a press release, Facebook, or Instagram to express his thoughts, just like everyone else,” they argued. The anchors further questioned who the intended audience of the Prime Minister's tweet was, given that most Pakistanis are unable to access X.
In his tweet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the terrorist attack that took place in Karachi, which claimed the lives of two Chinese nationals and injured another. He expressed his sorrow and promised swift justice for the perpetrators.
The criticism comes at a time when the Sindh High Court is hearing a case challenging the continued ban on X. The platform was originally banned in Pakistan due to concerns over national security and the potential to incite social unrest. However, the government’s continued use of X has been seen as hypocritical by critics, with many pointing out that while ordinary citizens are blocked from the platform, politicians and government officials remain active on it.
As the legal battle over the ban continues, many Pakistanis have found ways around it by using VPNs, while the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) faces increasing pressure to clarify its stance.
November 03, 2025: PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day under Musharraf, urging protection for journalists and the abolition of laws threatening press freedom.
November 02, 2025: PFUJ urges Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments to end Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and ensure their safety and press freedom.
November 02, 2025: Impunity for crimes against journalists deepens worldwide as Pakistan reports a 60 percent surge in attacks and weak enforcement of safety laws.
November 01, 2025: Pakistan Press Foundation reports 137 attacks on journalists in 2025, highlighting rising threats, legal harassment, and censorship on the International Day to End Impunity.
November 01, 2025: A viral Samaa TV clip featuring MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s crude remarks and Talat Hussain’s laughter raises questions about the declining ethics of Pakistani television.
October 31, 2025: Police foiled a plot to kill DawnNewsTV journalist Tahir Naseer in Rawalpindi after arresting suspects hired for Rs200,000. Naseer says threats followed his reporting.
October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.
October 30, 2025: The PFUJ has condemned a fabricated drug case against journalist Matiullah Jan, calling it an attempt to silence him and urging authorities to quash the charges immediately.
November 03, 2025 Global journalist unions condemn the Indonesian agriculture minister’s lawsuit against Tempo, calling it a threat to press freedom and demanding that the case be withdrawn.
November 02, 2025 Independent outlet All About Macau to halt print and online operations amid rising pressure, financial strain, and legal threats, sparking press freedom concerns in the city.
November 01, 2025 Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for extremism and defaming the president, highlighting Minsk’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom.
November 01, 2025 Mexican journalist Miguel Angel Beltran was found murdered in Durango. CPJ urges authorities to ensure justice amid rising violence against journalists in Mexico.
November 01, 2025 UNESCO survey finds one-third of media lawyers cannot effectively defend journalists due to threats, limited resources, and lack of specialization.