Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism Press freedom review: Detentions, digital control, and industry upheaval Chilling effect in media: The unseen pressure behind newsroom decisions South Asia sees 250 media rights violations in a year Media coverage of violence against women falls sharply globally Attack on Assamese newspaper deepens press safety concerns London arrests over Iran International attack The JournalismPakistan Global Media Brief | Edition 16 | April 17, 2026 Jahanzaib Haque takes helm as Nukta chief editor Khaleej Times at 48: A legacy newspaper navigating the digital age Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism Press freedom review: Detentions, digital control, and industry upheaval Chilling effect in media: The unseen pressure behind newsroom decisions South Asia sees 250 media rights violations in a year Media coverage of violence against women falls sharply globally Attack on Assamese newspaper deepens press safety concerns London arrests over Iran International attack The JournalismPakistan Global Media Brief | Edition 16 | April 17, 2026 Jahanzaib Haque takes helm as Nukta chief editor Khaleej Times at 48: A legacy newspaper navigating the digital age
Logo
Janu
Asia

Suno TV censors PTI leader Zartaj Gul's scarf featuring Imran Khan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 July 2024 |  JP Staff Reporter

Join our WhatsApp channel

Suno TV censors PTI leader Zartaj Gul's scarf featuring Imran Khan
Suno Television blurred images of Imran Khan on a scarf worn by Zartaj Gul during a talk show. This incident reflects ongoing media censorship in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD — In yet another instance of escalating media censorship in Pakistan, Suno Television blurred images of former Prime Minister Imran Khan featured on a scarf worn by PTI leader Zartaj Gul during the talk show "Buraks," hosted by Rana Mubashir.

A JournalismPakistan.com investigation revealed that the recorded program typically aired at 7:03 pm, experienced a delay of about six minutes as managers at the Lahore headquarters decided on a course of action regarding the controversial images. The program was divided into two segments, with Zartaj Gul appearing in the first half and Saira Bano, a former member of the National Assembly, featuring in the second half.

Interestingly, no one in the studio noticed the images during the recording. It wasn't until the footage was sent to Lahore that the alarm was raised. After losing crucial prime-time minutes, the program finally aired with the images of Imran Khan blurred.

This incident underscores an unwritten ban on mentioning Imran Khan or showing his images, leading to absurd decisions by television channels to avoid repercussions.

In July of last year, ARY News similarly blurred Imran Khan’s image during his meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) representative, rendering his face unrecognizable while leaving his feet visible. In another instance, during "The Pavilion" talk show on A Sports in October 2023, a question regarding former Prime Minister Imran Khan went unanswered. Fakhr-e-Alam, the program's host, read the question in English without naming Imran Khan, who famously captained Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning team. The show featured Wasim Akram, Moin Khan, Misbahul Haq, and Shoaib Malik.

Key Points

  • Suno TV blurred Imran Khan's image on Zartaj Gul's scarf during a live show.
  • The program experienced a six-minute delay due to the censorship decision.
  • Previous incidents include ARY News blurring Khan's image during an IMF meeting.
  • Television channels are avoiding showing Imran Khan to evade backlash.
  • Host Fakhr-e-Alam also avoided directly mentioning Imran Khan in another show.

Ask AI: Understand this story your way

AI Enabled

Dig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.

Not sure what to choose? Try one of these.

The AI generates results based on your selected options
Your AI-generated results will appear here after you click the button.

Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.

Read Next

Newsroom
Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns

Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns

 April 21, 2026 Kash Patel's defamation suit against The Atlantic has intensified scrutiny of legal pressures on journalists and raised concerns about press freedom.


Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics

Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics

 April 20, 2026 Irshad Bhatti's podcast interview with actor Meera drew criticism after he pressed personal topics and Meera walked out, sparking debate over media accountability.


One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media

One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media

 April 20, 2026 Dan Qayyum's viral article drew one million views in days, igniting debate about independent creators' reach and what it means for Pakistan's newsrooms.


From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

 April 19, 2026 Pakistan's media faced regulatory scrutiny, leadership changes and digital consolidation, highlighting industry stress and rising international recognition.


Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress

Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress

 April 19, 2026 Across Asia, journalists faced growing legal pressure, expanded surveillance and attacks on media outlets, even as a key appointment boosted gender diversity.


Popular Stories