JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 27, 2019
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD: Analyst Najam Sethi seems angered by regulator PEMRA’s decision of slapping Rs1 million fine on 24 News, and demanding an apology for discussing the personal life of Prime Minister Imran Khan in his talk show.
Sethi has asked other media organizations to condemn the PEMRA decision as absurd censorship. “I call upon all media and rights organisations at home and abroad to condemn this absurd censorship that condemns us unheard and demands an apology without even telling us what the charge is …”
I call upon all media and rights organisations at home and abroad to condemn this absurd censorship that condemns us unheard and demands an apology without even telling us what the charge is @CPJAsia @amnesty @RSF_AsiaPacific @HRCP87 @nayadaurpk @PakPressWatch
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) April 26, 2019
He also maintained that he and the TV channel have been punished without giving the opportunity to defend themselves. “Kindly let us know which statement Imran Khan finds untrue and objectionable. Also, very strange that you did not give us an opportunity to defend this statement! In fact, what if it turns out to be true later? Will you pay us Rs 10 lacs?”
Journalist and author Raza Rumi, commenting on the decision, termed it another effort to muzzle the press. “Such notices are plain attempts at muzzling a free press and there can be no other way of interpreting it. Silencing is virtually impossible in this day and age and the sooner the govt realizes that, the better.”
Zarrar Khuhro of DawnNews, who has a knack of looking at issues in a lighter vein, asked Sethi to campaign against polio vaccine to have a clean chit. “Sir, try to campaign against the polio vaccine instead. Apparently there you will have a clean chit.”
July 08, 2025: As Pakistani authorities move to block YouTube channels of journalists, censorship tightens. Yet, social media has emerged as a defiant force, keeping the spirit of free speech alive despite increasing state control.
July 08, 2025: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has acquitted a murder accused, ruling that confessions made to the media while in police custody are inadmissible. Justice Athar Minallah emphasized due process and transparency in legal proceedings.
July 08, 2025: The Pakistan government has approached a court seeking the removal of several YouTube channels operated by prominent journalists, accusing them of spreading false information and provoking unrest against state institutions.
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 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.