JournalismPakistan.com | Published November 11, 2023
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD—Author Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa is not happy with Naya Daur, an online TV channel run by journalist Raza Rumi, for trying to justify the interview of former PTI leader Sadaqat Ali Abbasi (pictured) by Adil Shahzeb on DawnNews.
The interviews of missing PTI leaders on mainstream TV channels have generated a debate regarding the role of journalists in going along with the state narrative and grilling a political leader under pressure to leave his party and politics.
Kamran Shahid of Dunay News conducted Usman Dar's interview at home while Adil Shahzeb quizzed Sadaqat in the DawnNews studios. This interview was held up for some days before being aired. Similarly, Muneeb Farooq interviewed Sheikh Rashid, chief of the Amami League.
In a post on X, Dr. Ayesha was incensed that Shahzeb maintained it was nothing new in Pakistani media, recalling how Hamid Mir and Salem Safi interviewed Osama bin Laden and Taliban spokesman Eshanullah Ehsan.
“I wonder why #Nayyadauttv has offered itself for this exercise of whitewashing all sins by offering interviews,” Dr. Ayesha said in her post. She added, "OBL interview is another class & there are doubts about it. Ehsanullah Ehsan interview as problematic as Sadiq Abbasi’s.” Giving her verdict, she said, “This is pure dishonesty, not journalism.” Dr. Ayesha is the author of the book Military Inc.
At the Pakistan Literary Festival in Islamabad earlier this month, Shahzeb was unhappy when journalists Matiullah Jan harshly criticized him for interviewing Sadaqat Ali Abbasi.
In an article in the Washington Post in 2022, Hamid Mir said he interviewed Osama bin Laden for the first time in 1997 in a cave in Tora Bora in Afghanistan. He interviewed him again a year later.
Photo credit: Geo.tv
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
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.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.