JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 29, 2022
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—On Monday, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) began a protest campaign to press for the resumption of ARY News' transmission.
The union and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) set up a protest camp outside the regulator PEMRA's Islamabad headquarters.
The unions saw the ARY ban as 'illegal and unjust' and slammed PEMRA and its chairman for the uncalled-for curbs.
The channel has been off cable networks since August 8 after it aired a comment by PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, which the authorities believed was inciting mutiny within the armed forces.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt criticized the decision and pointed to the 4000 ARY employees facing joblessness. He called for an immediate resumption of the channel's transmission.
President of National Press Club Anwar Raza said it was a pity that ARY News wasn't being put back on the airwaves despite the Sindh High Court order. "The court must establish its writ," he said.
Raza thought that PEMRA was dilly-dallying to prolong the ARY ban. He said how the regulator could claim the cable operators had blocked the channel. "They fall under PEMRA."
PFUJ has announced that its protests will continue daily. Journalists also protested outside PEMRA's regional offices elsewhere.
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 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
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.