JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 26, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channelWASHINGTON - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) expressed concern on Friday that members of Radio Mashaal are facing pressure by authorities following the closure of the Pashto-language service's Islamabad office on ISI orders last week.
RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said there were indications that authorities were seeking to compel staffers to make forced statements against the news organization.
On January 19, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry ordered the closure of the bureau following accusations by ISI that Mashaal's programs are “against the interest of Pakistan” and “in line with [a] hostile intelligence agency’s agenda.”
In a statement issued that day, Kent deplored the allegations, saying "Radio Mashaal serves no intelligence agency or government.” He demanded that the safety of Mashaal journalists "be ensured, and that they be permitted to resume their work without fear or delay.”
Radio Mashaal was created in 2010 with a grant by the U.S. Congress, as an alternative news source to extremist media in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the border with Afghanistan.
While Mashaal continues to use cross-border AM and shortwave radio to reach its Pashto-speaking audience, it also counts more than 1.6 million Facebook fans and registered 81 million video views on Facebook and 10 million views on YouTube in 2017.
Representatives of a broad spectrum of Pakistani political parties and prominent media figures have protested the January 19 decision. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists and the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders have condemned the forced closure as an assault on basic rights and freedoms in Pakistan.
The closure comes amid increasing tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan. – Press release/Photo" Almaz Isman Kalet (RFE/RL)
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.