CPJ calls on Pakistan to prosecute killers of journalist Imtiaz Mir
October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.
JournalismPakistan.com | Published last month | JP Staff Report
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ISLAMABAD — Veteran journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Muhammad Malick engaged in a heated war of words on X (formerly Twitter), sparking widespread reactions across Pakistan’s media and political circles.
The spat began when Sehbai posted about internal rifts in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), claiming that party leaders had decided to extend the tenure of Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. He wrote:
"Turmoil in Noon League: What's happening - one day a meeting took place and it was revealed that Noon League leaders have decided to keep Asim Munir in power even longer - Rana Sana said the decision has been made - Muhammad Malik didn’t ask a second question and got himself humiliated…"
Later, Sehbai shared that his remarks upset long-time friend and colleague Muhammad Malick.
"From my tweet, my friend, my colleague Muhammad Malik got very upset and angry, who knows what all he wrote and the DM he sent me was burning with fire… I haven’t backed down from my words but I am trying to cool down his anger," Sehbai wrote, adding that he hoped Malick would “come on the right path and make efforts.”
Malick then fired back sharply, calling Sehbai “irrelevant” and suggesting he needed medical help.
"I decided a long time back to never respond to desperate irrelevant morons and since you more than qualify on all three counts Shaheen, you don’t deserve a real response either. But will give you one parting advice: seek medical help cause you need it… just look at what you have become… bhai!" Malick posted.
In response, Sehbai stood by his stance:
"Yes Sir I have med advice which is good. I left Pak 30 years ago ... You keep adjusting yourself ... Don’t get ghussa bhai, you are intelligent but dishonest. Do some soul searching."
The heated exchange quickly gained traction, with supporters and critics of both journalists weighing in online. The exchange highlights the growing trend of senior journalists taking their professional and political disagreements public on social media platforms. While such clashes often draw sharp criticism and divided opinions, they also reflect the deep polarization within Pakistan’s media landscape, where personal friendships and professional rivalries frequently collide in the public eye.
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