Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism Press freedom review: Detentions, digital control, and industry upheaval Chilling effect in media: The unseen pressure behind newsroom decisions South Asia sees 250 media rights violations in a year Media coverage of violence against women falls sharply globally Attack on Assamese newspaper deepens press safety concerns London arrests over Iran International attack The JournalismPakistan Global Media Brief | Edition 16 | April 17, 2026 Jahanzaib Haque takes helm as Nukta chief editor Khaleej Times at 48: A legacy newspaper navigating the digital age Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism Press freedom review: Detentions, digital control, and industry upheaval Chilling effect in media: The unseen pressure behind newsroom decisions South Asia sees 250 media rights violations in a year Media coverage of violence against women falls sharply globally Attack on Assamese newspaper deepens press safety concerns London arrests over Iran International attack The JournalismPakistan Global Media Brief | Edition 16 | April 17, 2026 Jahanzaib Haque takes helm as Nukta chief editor Khaleej Times at 48: A legacy newspaper navigating the digital age
Logo
Janu
Unlocking the secrets of the media industry

Mubashar had plans to join Samaa

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 June 2012

Join our WhatsApp channel

Mubashar had plans to join Samaa
Mubashar Lucqman had intended to leave Dunya TV for Samaa but was denied after his off-air discussions leaked online. The footage revealed a pre-planned interview with Malik Riaz.

ISLAMABAD: Disgraced anchor Mubashar Lucqman was to quit Dunya TV and join Samaa but the plan was wrecked after his off-air conversation on a special program last week was leaked and went viral on the Internet. Following that explosive footage also featuring his colleague Meher Bukhari and their guest on the show, property magnate Malik Riaz, the Samaa management plainly refused to have him on board. The clips showed the interview with Malik of Bahria Town fame was a set-up as Meher admits herself during the conversation that took place before the program and during commercial breaks. Samaa is currently in the process of hiring new staff after a group of at least eight staff members quit last month. They are all headed for DawnNews. (This is the corrected story. It was mistakenly reported in the earlier version that Mubashar Lucqman was to join Waqt News – Ed)

Key Points

  • Mubashar Lucqman planned to join Samaa TV.
  • Leaked footage of off-air conversation caused uproar.
  • Samaa management rejected his joining after the leak.
  • Meher Bukhari admitted the interview was scripted.
  • Samaa is recruiting new staff amid recent departures.

Ask AI: Understand this story your way

AI Enabled

Dig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.

Not sure what to choose? Try one of these.

The AI generates results based on your selected options
Your AI-generated results will appear here after you click the button.

Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.

Explore Further

Newsroom
Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns

Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns

 April 21, 2026 Kash Patel's defamation suit against The Atlantic has intensified scrutiny of legal pressures on journalists and raised concerns about press freedom.


Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics

Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics

 April 20, 2026 Irshad Bhatti's podcast interview with actor Meera drew criticism after he pressed personal topics and Meera walked out, sparking debate over media accountability.


One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media

One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media

 April 20, 2026 Dan Qayyum's viral article drew one million views in days, igniting debate about independent creators' reach and what it means for Pakistan's newsrooms.


Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress

Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress

 April 19, 2026 Across Asia, journalists faced growing legal pressure, expanded surveillance and attacks on media outlets, even as a key appointment boosted gender diversity.


Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism

Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism

 April 19, 2026 Slow news days give journalists time to verify facts, pursue in-depth reporting, and reduce errors, strengthening overall newsroom accuracy and long-form storytelling.


Popular Stories