JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 30, 2023
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Pakistani anchor Nasim Zehra has served a legal notice to journalist and analyst Moeed Pirzada under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002.
The notice was issued following Pirzada's appearance in a YouTube video titled "Dr. Moeed Pirzada unwraps Hamid Mir/Nasim Zehra's disclosures about Gen. Bajwa & Army Reforms!" in which he allegedly made false, malicious, and defamatory statements against Zehra.
Pirzada claimed that Zehra ran a scripted show and acted at the behest of the government and/or other parties, which Zehra's lawyers have called patently false and baseless.
The video has received over 195,000 views since its publication on April 23, 2023. Zehra's lawyers have demanded that Pirzada remove the video, retract his defamatory statements, and apologize publicly within a fortnight to avoid any legal action.
Zehra, who has degrees from Quaid-e-Azam University and The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the U.S., is a visiting fellow at the Harvard University Asia Centre and was previously a visiting lecturer at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, and the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad. She is the author of the book "From Kargil to the Coup: Events that Shook Pakistan" and is the recipient of several awards for her contributions to journalism and academia.
Pirzada, in his comments, referred to a discussion between Zehra and journalist Hamid Mir on 24News HD TV as "rubbish" and "deliberate and scripted."
Zehra had called for a court martial of former army chief Gen (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa. Mir had disclosed that Bajwa once told journalists that the Pakistani military did not even have enough diesel to keep its tanks running. Mir also claimed that Bajwa wanted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Pakistan without the knowledge of Imran Khan's government.
Pirzada questioned who had instructed Zehra to call for Bajwa's court martial and alleged that the discussion was planned and scripted to support political figures such as Nawaz Sharif, Mohsin Naqvi, Asif Ali Zardari, and Gen. Asim Munir.
He also pointed out that three channels, including 24News HD TV, belonged to Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who has the support of Zardari and Sharif, and the army chief Gen Asim Munir.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
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.