Senior tribal journalist Sailab Mehsud passes away

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 5 years ago

LANDIKOTAL—Senior journalist Sailab Mehsud, 70, who founded the Tribal Journalists Association (TUJ) passed away on Thursday following a prolonged illness.

The News reported on Friday that the veteran journalist, whose real name was Rifatullah, died at a private hospital in Islamabad. He remained hospitalized for about five months.

Mehsud worked for several national and international media outlets, including Reuters, Al Jazeera, Mashal Radio, Dawn and Jang as correspondent for his native South Waziristan for the last four decades.

He was also a columnist and writer, and the chief editor of Karwan-e-Qabail, a weekly newspaper in the tribal districts for several years.

Lahore journalists reported missing after by-election coverage

November 25, 2025: Two Lahore-based digital journalists went missing after covering the alleged by-election irregularities, with colleagues alleging police involvement and no court appearance reported.

Journalists face new risks and opportunities from X’s location labels

November 24, 2025: Journalists should brace for both safety risks and new verification tools after X’s 'About This Account' feature begins to disclose the location of user accounts.

New study shows alarming decline in press freedom in Pakistan

November 20, 2025: New data from the Worlds of Journalism Report shows rising threats, political pressures, and shrinking media freedom for Pakistani journalists working in an increasingly hostile environment.

Shahzeb Khanzada faces lawsuit threat in Canada over video

November 19, 2025: Shahid Bhatti threatens legal action against Shahzeb Khanzada and his wife in Canada, claiming their actions endangered his life and violated Canadian law.

Journalists condemn police handling of Imran Khan’s sisters

November 19, 2025: Journalists across Pakistan condemn police for allegedly roughing up Imran Khan’s sisters outside Adiala Jail, sparking outrage and raising questions about rights and accountability.

Minister says man who harassed Shahzeb Khanzada identified

November 19, 2025: Pakistan’s information minister says the man who harassed journalist Shahzeb Khanzada in Canada has been identified as a PTI worker, though BBC Urdu says it cannot verify the claim.

Top ARY News official criticizes double-faced journalism

November 18, 2025: ARY News President Ammad Yousaf criticizes double-faced journalism in Pakistan, highlighting opportunism and ethical concerns without naming any journalist directly.

Benazir Shah targeted by AI video as Shahzeb Khanzada faces backlash

November 17, 2025: Benazir Shah condemns AI harassment while Shahzeb Khanzada faces sharp criticism for agenda-driven coverage, raising questions about ethics and accountability in Pakistani journalism.

Newsroom

How AI and data tools are transforming investigative journalism

November 25, 2025 Investigative journalism is evolving with AI, data visualization, and open-source intelligence, giving reporters advanced tools to uncover complex stories and improve reporting accuracy.

Global extremism threatens women journalists, warns IFJ

November 25, 2025 IFJ warns that global extremism and far-right movements increasingly threaten women journalists, with online harassment, violence, and discrimination rising worldwide.

Digital rights report exposes rising AI‑abuse in Southeast Europe

November 25, 2025 A new BIRN report finds 1,440 digital‑rights violations across Southeast Europe, highlighting growing AI‑driven abuse, surveillance, and threats to press freedom.

Gaza journalist faces false claims over X location tags

November 25, 2025 Gaza journalist Motasem Dalloul faced false accusations after X location tags circulated online, highlighting verification challenges and digital risks for reporters in conflict zones.

X account location labels reshape Middle East reporting

November 25, 2025 New account location labels on X are changing how Middle East reporting is verified, prompting newsrooms to refine workflows and manage rising audience expectations.