Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Outcry as Dawn publishes op-ed by ex-CJ Qazi Faez Isa ڈان اخبار میں سابق چیف جسٹس قاضی فائز عیسیٰ کا مضمون شائع کرنے پر شدید تنقیدPakistan's Flying Horse: How Samiullah Khan changed hockey forever پاکستان کا فلائنگ ہارس: سمیع اللہ خان نے ہاکی کو کیسے بدل دیاPFUJ honors journalists flogged in 1978 for defending press freedom جرنلسٹس جنہوں نے ضیاء کے آمرانہ دور کا مقابلہ کیا، انہیں پی ایف یو جے کا خراج تحسینIndian media declares war and defeats Pakistan—all without leaving the studio! ہندوستانی میڈیا نے جنگ کا اعلان کر دیا اور پاکستان کو شکست دے دی— سب اسٹوڈیو سے باہر نکلے بغیرIndia expands crackdown on Pakistani media, bans Rana Mubashir’s YouTube channel ہندوستان نے نامور صحافی رانا مبشر کا یوٹیوب چینل بلاک کر دیا، پاکستانی میڈیا پر پابندیوں میں اضافہ NCHR and MMfD launch Fellowship to Empower Journalists on Digital Rights & Gender Inclusion این سی ایچ آر اور ایم ایم ایف ڈی نے صحافیوں کو ڈیجیٹل حقوق اور صنفی شمولیت پر بااختیار بنانے کے لیے فیلوشپ کا اعلان کر دیاPFUJ condemns 'black laws' and harassment on World Press Freedom Day پی ایف یو جے کا "سیاہ قوانین" اور ہراساں کرنے کی مذمت عالمی یوم آزادی صحافت پرDawn refutes fake report claiming TTP stole PAF F-16 jet ڈان نے ٹی ٹی پی کے ایف-16 چوری کرنے کی جھوٹی خبر کی تردید کر دیFreedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report اظہارِ رائے کی آزادی محدود، پیکا میں ترامیم سے میڈیا کو شدید دھچکا: رپورٹDawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric ڈان کی بھارتی میڈیا سے جنگی بیانیہ ترک کرنے کی اپیلIndia bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack پہلگام حملے کے بعد بھارت نے پاکستان کے 16 یوٹیوب چینلز پر پابندی لگا دی'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings ان اے ڈیفرنٹ ریلم کرکٹ کی عظیم ترین اننگز پر ایک فکری نقطۂ نظر پیش کرتی ہے

SAMDEN protests actions against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and The Wire

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published April 04, 2020

Join our WhatsApp channel

SAMDEN protests actions against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and The Wire

NEW DELHI—Leading editors and media professionals from South Asia on Saturday protested actions against the media in Pakistan and India—the detention of Pakistani editor and publisher Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman in Lahore and legal action against the independent Indian online portal, The Wire.

“The preoccupation of the world public and opinion makers with the COVID-19 pandemic has made it easier for those who want to try and gag critics in the media,” said the South Asia Media Defenders Network (SAMDEN), which is anchored by co-convenors from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

While the harassment and imprisonment of journalists have been a distressing trend in all the countries of South Asia over the past few years, SAMDEN said, “we have seen a sudden escalation in such actions over the past few weeks.” It described the actions against Rahman and The Wire as “representative of a trend across the region.”

Mir Shakilur Rahman is the chief editor and proprietor of Pakistan’s largest media group, encompassing The News, Jang and Geo TV. The action against him is based on a 34-year old property transaction.

Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau detained Rahman, in violation of its own rules that do not allow arrest at the stage of verification. “The authorities appear to be dragging this case out to teach the media a lesson,” SAMDEN said.

Rahman’s arrest and detention follow a string of attacks on him and his media group and its journalists by the Pakistani authorities and non-state elements over the past years. Organizations such as Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters without Borders, Human Rights Watch and Association of International Broadcasters have denounced this latest action.

Urgent appeals have been filed for his release to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression.

Editors of The Wire learnt of the case against their organization through social media. The First Information Report (FIR) registered by the police in Lucknow says that the online news organization reported that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath attended a public religious event in Ayodhya on March 25, after Prime Minister Modi had announced a national lockdown to counter the Coronavirus crisis.

“This report was factually correct and a matter of record, yet the police has made it the basis for a criminal case,” SAMDEN commented.

The Wire is one of a handful of India’s robust media voices. SAMDEN noted that the case came at a time when the central government has been trying to restrict media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The actions come at a time of heightened concern that rulers could use the COVID-19 crisis to suppress the news media, said SAMDEN, “at a time when South Asia and the world are facing an unprecedented public health challenge.”

“Such cases undermine the media at a time that it needs to be strengthened.”

SAMDEN, founded in 2017, has a membership of over 50 media professionals, including editors, reporters, right to information specialists, bloggers, and authors from across South Asia, Australia, and the UK. It is anchored in the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

Its co-convenors are Kanak Mani Dixit, Founder Editor of Himal magazine, Nepal, Mahfuz Anam, Publisher and Editor of the Daily Star of Bangladesh, Kumar Lopez, Executive Director of the Sri Lanka Press Institute, Beena Sarwar, Boston-based editor and filmmaker from Pakistan, and Sanjoy Hazarika, writer, columnist and international director of CHRI.

Outcry as Dawn publishes op-ed by ex-CJ Qazi Faez Isa

Outcry as Dawn publishes op-ed by ex-CJ Qazi Faez Isa

 May 15, 2025:  Dawn faces backlash for publishing ex-CJ Qazi Faez Isa's op-ed, accused of undermining democracy and aiding election rigging. Politicians and journalists condemn the move.

PFUJ honors journalists flogged in 1978 for defending press freedom

PFUJ honors journalists flogged in 1978 for defending press freedom

 May 12, 2025:  PFUJ pays tribute to journalists flogged under General Zia’s martial law in 1978, vowing to resist modern censorship and uphold press freedom in Pakistan.

Indian media declares war and defeats Pakistan—all without leaving the studio!

Indian media declares war and defeats Pakistan—all without leaving the studio!

 May 09, 2025:  In a bizarre media meltdown, Indian TV channels declared war on Pakistan, claimed imaginary victories and pushed fake narratives—leaving even Indian viewers stunned and apologetic.

India expands crackdown on Pakistani media, bans Rana Mubashir’s YouTube channel

India expands crackdown on Pakistani media, bans Rana Mubashir’s YouTube channel

 May 05, 2025:  India has banned prominent Pakistani journalist Rana Mubashir’s YouTube channel, expanding its crackdown on 16 other Pakistani media outlets. The move follows accusations of "false narratives" against India.

PFUJ condemns 'black laws' and harassment on World Press Freedom Day

PFUJ condemns 'black laws' and harassment on World Press Freedom Day

 May 03, 2025:  Pakistan's press freedom under severe threat as PFUJ condemns repressive laws and systematic journalist harassment on World Press Freedom Day. Union reports journalist killings, financial targeting, and government failure to implement safety measures.

Dawn refutes fake report claiming TTP stole PAF F-16 jet

Dawn refutes fake report claiming TTP stole PAF F-16 jet

 May 02, 2025:  Dawn has strongly denied publishing any report claiming that TTP stole a PAF F-16 fighter jet, labeling the viral screenshot as fake and digitally manipulated.

Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report

Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report

 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.

Dawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric

Dawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric

 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.

Newsroom
Pakistan's Flying Horse: How Samiullah Khan changed hockey forever

Pakistan's Flying Horse: How Samiullah Khan changed hockey forever

 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.

Algerian TV channel suspended for 10 days over racist slur against African migrants

Algerian TV channel suspended for 10 days over racist slur against African migrants

 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.

NCHR and MMfD launch Fellowship to Empower Journalists on Digital Rights & Gender Inclusion

NCHR and MMfD launch Fellowship to Empower Journalists on Digital Rights & Gender Inclusion

 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!

'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings

'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings

 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.​

The PSL paradox: pageantry or progress?

The PSL paradox: pageantry or progress?

 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?