PTV journalist faces backlash for calling late SP Adeel Akbar ‘coward and fool’

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 24 October 2025 |  JP Staff Report

A post by PTV's Najam Wali Khan criticizing the late SP Adeel Akbar for his suicide has ignited significant backlash on social media. Critics are condemning his remarks as insensitive and inappropriate during a time of mourning.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — A post by journalist Najam Wali Khan of PTV has sparked outrage on social media after he labeled the late SP Adeel Akbar, who allegedly committed suicide in Islamabad on Thursday, a coward and fool.

In a lengthy post on X, Najam questioned how someone like Adeel could have joined the police service. “I have never considered a murderer to be brave or wise, nor someone who commits suicide. These are cowardly and foolish individuals who cannot control their anger or confront their problems,” he wrote.

As social media users expressed sympathy for the late SP, Najam insisted that Adeel did not deserve admiration. “Don’t turn people like this into heroes. They are not even worthy of sympathy or compassion, because they are leading others down the wrong path—one of cowardice and escape,” he added.

آپ پولیس میں ایس پی ہو، اسلام آباد میں تعینات ہوں اور آپ خودکشی کر لیں، آپ سے بڑا بزدل اور احمق کون ہے؟ ۔۔۔ میں نے نہ کبھی کسی قاتل کو بہادر اور سمجھدار سمجھا ہے اور نہ کسی خود کشی کرنے والے کو۔ یہ بزدل اور احمق لوگ ہوتے ہیں جو نہ اپنے غصے پر قابو پا سکتے ئیں اور نہ اپنے مسائل کا… pic.twitter.com/iZ5zaMhpzM

— Najam Wali Khan (@najamwalikhan) October 23, 2025

Journalist Asad Toor strongly condemned Najam’s remarks, calling them insensitive and cruel. “Curse be upon this man, Najam Wali Khan, and shame on those who are rewarding this callous individual with a position at PTV funded by the national treasury. A four-year-old girl has lost her father, the entire family and police force are in mourning, and yet he dares to label the late SP Adeel Akbar as cowardly and foolish. Such vile and sick-minded thinking deserves nothing but condemnation,” Toor said in his post.

Several social media users also criticized Najam’s comments, describing them as heartless and inappropriate. Some questioned the circumstances surrounding the SP’s death, suggesting it may not have been suicide. Others argued that it would have been far better to remain silent out of respect for the grieving family.