National Press Club restores Absar Alam's membership

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 7 years ago

ISLAMABAD – The National Press Club, Islamabad has restored the membership of Absar Alam, the former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

Alam was with Aaj TV and International Non-Governmental Organization - Open Society Foundation – when he was appointed the head of PEMRA in November 2015.

The club suspended his council membership at that time.

Alam quit PEMRA in December 2017 after the Lahore High Court declared his appointment as chairman illegal.

The court ruled on a petition filed by a citizen, Munir Ahmed in which he claimed the federal government violated merit in appointing Alam and that he drew a salary which was more than the Management Position (MP) scale for this position.

Dive Deeper

Journalists urge courts to quash warrants against Imaan Mazari, husband

December 10, 2025: Veteran journalists and rights activists raise alarm over non-bailable warrants against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, calling the NCIA case agenda-driven and a threat to free speech.

Rs524m in ads, empty newsrooms: Balochistan’s media paradox

December 10, 2025: Balochistan Assembly documents show over Rs524 million spent on government advertisements for Quetta-based newspapers in one year, raising questions about reach, oversight, and media sustainability.

Pakistan Railways details journalist and senior citizen concessions

December 09, 2025: Pakistan Railways briefed lawmakers on fare concessions for journalists, their families, and senior citizens, outlining costs and usage across the past five years.

PEMRA refers Aaj News episode to Council of Complaints

December 09, 2025: PEMRA has referred an Aaj News program to the Council of Complaints over alleged violations of the Electronic Media Code of Conduct following unverified political claims aired on November 18.

DawnNews.tv closure raises concerns over media job security in Pakistan

December 09, 2025: DawnNews.tv’s shutdown and related layoffs have intensified concerns about media worker rights and job security in Pakistan as unions urge the government to uphold labor protections.

Why Pakistan lags as foreign broadcasters choose India

December 08, 2025: India’s fast-growing media market, regulatory flexibility, and global influence are drawing major international broadcasters, including RT India, while Pakistan struggles to attract similar investments.

Sindh lawmaker apologizes after raising false news of Moin Khan’s death

December 06, 2025: A Sindh lawmaker apologized after mistakenly announcing cricketer Moin Khan’s death in the Assembly, highlighting concerns over rising misinformation and social media rumors in Pakistan.

Pakistani journalist wins climate change reporting contest

December 04, 2025: Samaa Digital journalist Wajid Ali wins a British High Commission climate contest for his story on Pakistan’s street workers, blending faith perspectives with science to raise awareness.

Newsroom

AI use in newsrooms rises sharply amid growing ethical concerns

December 10, 2025 Recent surveys show a surge in AI adoption among journalists for research, drafting, fact-checking, and multimedia tasks, but many express deep worry over accuracy, originality, and trust issues in media.

Meta strikes new AI licensing deals with major news publishers

December 10, 2025 Meta signs new AI licensing deals with major publishers, embedding news in AI tools, and creating new revenue opportunities for digital journalism

Vietnam expands state secrecy law, weakens journalist source protection

December 10, 2025 Vietnam’s parliament has expanded state secrecy laws, allowing police to compel journalists to reveal sources and broadening secrecy rules, raising serious press freedom concerns.

Journalist deaths rise sharply in 2025, Gaza leads toll

December 09, 2025 The 2025 report from Reporters Without Borders records 67 journalists killed worldwide, nearly half in Gaza, highlighting escalating risks for reporters in war zones, crime-ridden regions, and authoritarian states.

Online abuse of women journalists hits new global high

December 09, 2025 A new UN Women report finds 70 percent of women journalists and activists worldwide face online violence, with 42 percent reporting offline harm linked to digital attacks, raising serious press freedom concerns.