JournalismPakistan.com | Published 4 years ago | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD — A controversy has emerged after two prominent religious figures declined to participate in a television program hosted by journalist and anchorperson Gharidah Farooqi.
Former Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman and Sailani Welfare Trust head Maulana Bashir Farooqi were invited to appear on Farooqi’s current affairs show to answer questions on pressing issues. However, both refused the invitation, citing their stance against speaking to women or giving interviews to female hosts.
Gharida Farooqi herself disclosed the matter in a post on Twitter, stating:
“Mufti Muneeb and Maulana Bashir were invited to my TV program for giving answers to questions. But both religious leaders refused, saying that neither we talk to women nor we give interviews to them.”
The decision by the two clerics has sparked widespread debate on social media. Supporters of the anchor criticized the refusal as discriminatory and regressive, highlighting the importance of women’s participation in media and public discourse. Others defended the clerics’ stance, arguing that it was consistent with their religious values.
This development comes at a time when women journalists in Pakistan continue to face challenges ranging from online harassment to systemic exclusion in media spaces. Gharidah Farooqi, known for her outspoken journalism and bold questioning, has often been at the center of debates concerning gender equality in the media industry.
Observers note that such incidents highlight the persistent tension between traditional religious viewpoints and the evolving role of women in Pakistan’s media landscape.
November 05, 2025: PTI’s Faisal Chaudhry’s witty reply to Gharidah Farooqi on GTV’s “G for Gharidah” goes viral as a clip from their debate over the 27th Amendment sparks reactions online.
November 05, 2025: Digital platform Nukta lays off 37 employees in Pakistan, including journalists and producers, highlighting the financial struggles facing new media ventures in a shrinking job market.
November 04, 2025: Talat Hussain denies airing the viral clip showing Sher Afzal Marwat’s vulgar remark, saying it was not part of his Samaa TV show.
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.
November 05, 2025 The Pulitzer Center is offering global reporting grants for journalists worldwide, funding high-impact projects on underreported issues with rolling applications in 2025.
November 04, 2025 Journalist Rana Ayyub receives death threats over calls demanding a column on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as CPJ urges swift action to protect journalists in India.
November 04, 2025 TV8 journalist Mariana Rata in Moldova receives a death threat after interviewing politician Renato Usatii on-air, raising concerns about journalist safety.
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.