Tag: journalist

  • Journalist turned politician, Fahd Husain appointed as SAPM to PM Shehbaz

    Journalist turned politician, Fahd Husain appointed as SAPM to PM Shehbaz

    Senior journalist and columnist Fahd Husain has been appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    The Cabinet Division issued the notification following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s approval on Friday.

    Image of notification

    “The Prime Minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of Rules of Business, 1973, has been pleased to appoint Syed Fahd Husain as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister with the status of Federal Minister, with immediate effect,” read a notification of his appointment.

    Fahd Hussain will have the portfolio in Public Policy and Strategic Communication.

    Husain has previously served as the Resident Editor of Dawn newspaper in Islamabad.

    He has spent three decades in the field of journalism. Husain has been a newspaper reporter, editor, columnist, television anchor, and news director during his time as a journalist.

  • Sindh police arrest alleged killer in journalist Athar Mateen’s murder case

    Sindh police arrest alleged killer in journalist Athar Mateen’s murder case

    Sindh police have arrested the alleged killer, Ashraf Brohi who killed Samaa’s journalist Athar Mateen on February 18 in Karachi. The incident took place when the journalist came across two men robbing a citizen at gunpoint. To prevent the mugging, he banged his car into the suspects’ motorcycle.

    Sindh Minister of Information and Human Resource Department, Senator Saeed Ghani posted an update related to the murder case on his Twitter.

    He wrote, “Sindh police has arrested a man named Ashraf who was involved in the murder of Samaa’s journalist Athar Mateen. Insha’Allah, the killer will be punished according to the law. The diligent efforts of the police in this whole case are commendable and in the same way, the confidence of the people in Sindh Police will increase.”

    The journalist’s brother, Tariq Mateen told to Samaa that he received a phone call from Senator Saeed Ghani. He updated him about the arrest of Ashraf Brohi.

    He also stated that the police have found some important details through which they will arrest the second killer soon.

    “Officials have claimed that the second suspect will soon be arrested as well,” he added.

    The Sindh police identified the suspect with the help of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) on February 26. Ashraf Brohi hails from Khuzdar, Balochistan. He was arrested when he was in the city of Hub.

    Police have obtained all criminal records of Ashraf Brohi. He was involved with a criminal gang comprising of 12 members in Balochistan. They were involved in snatching motorcycles and cars. The group primarily does activities in Hub and other parts of the province. He was once arrested in 2021 but he was released after bail.

  • Fact Check: Punjab University did not order students to wear burqas on Valentine’s Day

    Fact Check: Punjab University did not order students to wear burqas on Valentine’s Day

    Claim: Punjab University mandated its students to wear burqa on Valentine’s Day by issuing a notice which was circulating social media

    Fact: No such notification was issued from Punjab University

    A notification from Punjab University was circulating on social media. “All the boys of the Punjab University are supposed to wear White Prayer Caps,” the notification read. The notification further states: “All girls are supposed to wear Black Burqas with black hand gloves and black socks on 14 Feburary, Haya Day.”

    However, University of Punjab tweeted that this was a doctored notification.

    Meanwhile, The University of Peshawar announced an official ‘off day’ on Valentine’s day and will be conducting seminars and workshops.

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • ‘Stupid son of a b****,’ US President curses reporter for asking about inflation

    ‘Stupid son of a b****,’ US President curses reporter for asking about inflation

    During a press conference on Monday, United States (US) President Joe Biden was caught swearing at a reporter after his mic seemed to accidentally pick up his reaction to a question about inflation.

    In the video, it can be seen that all reporters were leaving the room when Fox News‘ White House (WH) Correspondent Peter Doocy asked Biden, “Will you take questions on inflation then? Do you think inflation is a political liability ahead of the midterms?”

    Unaware that his microphone was still on, the democratic leader said, “No, it’s a great asset — more inflation. What a stupid son of a b****.”

    Later, his mic was quickly turned off and Biden looked quite surprised as he appeared to notice his mistake.

    New York Times‘ WH correspondent Katie Rogers also tweeted the official transcript of the scene.

    After the conference, Doocy appeared on Fox News and revealed that he didn’t even hear the president’s response until the conference had finished.

    He said, “The White House and the communications officials here had been signalling last week when they had their first year in office anniversary that they were going to take a different approach with reporters.”

    However, later when he appeared on Fox News‘ Hannity programme, he said that the president had called him to “clear the air”.

  • Usman Mirza Case: ‘probability’ victim couple took money for settlement, SSP

    Usman Mirza Case: ‘probability’ victim couple took money for settlement, SSP

    Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Attaur Rehman, while talking to Journalist Rauf Klasra, has talked about the Usman Mirza couple harassment case in details.

    He told Klasra the video of the couple being harassed by Usman Mirza was sent to “Punjab Forensic Science” to check its authenticity, and the “Punjab Forensic Science Agency” confirmed that the video was authentic and the people in the video are the same.

    He added that police arrested the accused persons after working very hard as the incident happened 8 to 9 months before the video went viral.

    He also said that police is providing the victim couple with protection but they are not coming forward due to “social taboos”.

    The journalist also asked the SSP about the confession of the accused persons to which he said that the accused persons have confessed to the crime.

    Read more- Follow up: What happened in the Usman Mirza case?

    Talking about the future of the case SSP said, “On the next hearing, we will go with scientific and forensic [evidence]. He continued by explaining that there are two types of evidences: one is circumstantial evidence and the other is the statements of the witnesses. “Other than that there are forensic evidences also, which play a key role, and we have many forensic evidences in this case.” He hoped that this case will still be pursued and the involved people will be punished.

    He also said that despite the fact that victims have retracted their statements, he will try to get the accused persons will get punished based on other evidence.

    The journalist further asked the SSP that how the couple agreed for an out of the court settlement when the police was standing behind them. Were they facing any threats or did they take any money? To which the SSP said being a police officer, he will say that as long as the threats were concerned, he doesn’t think that’s the case. Talking about the couple taking the money he said, “there is a probability” that they took money, but i can’t say that with “authenticity”.

    The case came back into the limelight again yesterday when Journalist Rauf Klasra, in a tweet said that the victim couple in the Usman Mirza case have refused to recognise the accused persons. He further said that police has said the couple have taken “one crore and have reached a settlement.”

  • PFUJ demands apology from Maryam Nawaz and Pervaiz Rashid for abusing journalists

    PFUJ demands apology from Maryam Nawaz and Pervaiz Rashid for abusing journalists

    The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has demanded an apology from Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz’s (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and leader Pervaiz Rashid for using abusive language against senior journalists and anchorpersons.

    Earlier this week, the audio was leaked in which both of them [Maryam and Rashid] used derogatory language for the Geo News programme “Report Card” analysts.

    The union President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi said the leaked audio was alarming as it showed the mindset of political leadership against media and independent journalists.

    Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors have also condemned the language used and views expressed by Nawaz and Rashid.

    A committee comprising experienced editors and directors news has reportedly requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to show leniency and drop the allegations against senior journalist Ansar Abbasi in former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge (CJ) Rana Shamim’s affidavit case.

  • Shehryar Afridi calling Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack a journalist is unacceptable, says RSF

    Shehryar Afridi calling Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack a journalist is unacceptable, says RSF

    Reporters Without Borders also known as Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) took to Twitter to condemn the attack on Younas Khan, a journalist who questioned the chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi in France during an event.

    RSF’s condemnation comes in relevance to Afridi’s leaked audio, where he was not happy with the organisers of the event during which Younas Khan questioned him whether he had any interactions with parliamentarians or Tink Tank when he was touring France.

    RSF tweeted, “Pakistan: #RSF strongly supports Paris-based Pakistani journalist @younaskhan1977, who is now the target of death threats after he was thrashed and insulted by a famous Pakistani politician, @ShehryarAfridi1, recently visiting #France.”

    “@younaskhan1977’s only wrongdoing was to ask a question that displeased @ShehryarAfridi1. In a leaked audio clip, the politician can be heard calling members of the Pakistani community in Europe to physically attack the journalist. These threats are unacceptable,” added RSF.

    Afridi’s leaked audio revealed that he was unhappy and could be heard talking to the organisers that he came to the event at their request. “If I did not answer the questions there, people would have said that I was scared and ran away,” said Afridi.

    “When the journalist was asking me questions, why did you [organisers] stay silent, why didn’t you ask him why this news was published?” Afridi questioned using explicit language.

    Shehryar Afridi told the organisers of the ceremony that they did not miss the chance to demean him, adding, “As far as I am concerned, it would have been good, but it is a matter of Pakistan’s honour.”

    “If you do not ask this journalist about the news, I will not spare you,” warned Afridi.

  • ‘Braindead journalists’: Twitter reacts to Hassan Ali shutting down journalist during PSL drafts

    ‘Braindead journalists’: Twitter reacts to Hassan Ali shutting down journalist during PSL drafts

    Pakistan cricket team’s star pacer Hassan Ali always remains in the discussion for some reason or the other. Once again, Ali is in discussion and this time the matter is a bit hot. This time the bowler had an argument with a journalist, whose video has now gone viral on social media. The draft event of the seventh season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was held on Sunday December 12 in Lahore, where the incident took place.

    A press conference was also held on the sidelines of the draft event of PSL 2022. Ali also participated in this event and Ali, who plays for Islamabad United in PSL, was answering questions, when a journalist wanted to ask him a question but he refused to listen to his question.

    In the viral video, it can be seen that the journalist asked Ali a question but before hearing the question, he said: “Next question.” The journalist who asked the question was Anas Saeed. Anas tried to ask the question again, but Hassan again deferred by saying “next question”. Here a brawl started between the two.

    Anas asked Hassan to listen to his question, then Hassan said: “I don’t want to answer you.” Hassan further said: “You first sit on Twitter and write good things and then I will reply. You should not be personal with anyone. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) can’t stop you, but we have the right.”

    Ali looked quite upset during this and did not listen to Saeed’s question. The video of this spat between the two went viral on Twitter. Anas Saeed re-tweeted it and wrote, “Journalists have to face such allegations in every round, sometimes stealing eyes by calling it a caste allegation will not do anything. I will come back strong.”

    In another video, the journalist can be heard saying that rumours about Hassan circulate on social media while Hassan instantly said: “Next question please.”

    Earlier, Saeed took to Twitter and posted Ali’s video in which he was having a fun time with his teammates Khushdil Shah and Iftikhar Ahmad. While Anas Saeed took to Twitter and pointed out that taking off the masks on a flight is against the Covid-19 protocols.

    Meanwhile, several sports journalists critised the cricketer while many fans extended their support for him.

    https://twitter.com/TheWhimsicalAli/status/1470085866471182343?s=20

  • 293 journalists jailed, 24 killed in 2021: CPJ report

    Record number of journalists were jailed around the world in 2021 with China remaining the world’s worst jailer of journalists for the third year in a row with 50 journalists behind the bars, states a report by Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

    Apart from China, 26 journalists are behind bars in Burma, 25 in Egypt, 23 in Vietnam and 19 in Belarus.

    Adding those jailed in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, the CPJ said a total of 293 journalists were in prison worldwide as of December 1.

    Forty of the 293 detained journalists – less than 14 per cent – are women.

    Executive director of the group Joel Simon said, “This is the sixth year in a row that CPJ has documented record numbers of journalists imprisoned around the world. It’s distressing to see many countries on the list year after year, but it is especially horrifying that Myanmar and Ethiopia have so brutally slammed the door on press freedom.”

    According to the report, 24 journalists are believed to be killed around the world this year. India has the highest number of journalists – four – confirmed to have been murdered in retaliation for their work. A fifth was killed while covering a protest. While, in the west, Mexico is at the top as three journalists were murdered for their reporting and the motives for six other killings are under investigation.

    The CPJ said the number of journalists behind bars reflects “increasing intolerance for independent reporting around the world”.

    Last month, Freedom Network reported that two dozen journalists in Pakistan had been prosecuted (2019-21) over the past under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

  • Twitter reacts to PTI’s Hammad Azhar’s challenge to journalist Shahzeb Khanzada

    Twitter reacts to PTI’s Hammad Azhar’s challenge to journalist Shahzeb Khanzada

    Energy Minister of Pakistan, Hammad Azhar took to Twitter to challenge journalist Shahzeb Khanzada to a debate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and gas.

    Pakistan at present is facing a gas crisis throughout the country. Journalist Shahzab Khanzada, a year ago, had warned that the gas crisis was impending, kept reiterating that the crisis needs immense attention, otherwise the consequences shall be huge.

    Khanzada called the minister on his political news programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ five times but each time the minister declined despite promising to appear on the show.

    On Friday, Azhar took to Twitter and proposed a challenge.

    “I would like to challenge Shahzeb Khanzada to debate LNG and Gas issues with me moderated by a neutral anchor and with Independent experts. Let the ppl [people] see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters etc,” tweeted Azhar.

    His words, “a neutral anchor” and “let the ppl see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters” caught a lot of criticism and sparked reactions from the Twitterati.

    Senior Journalist Abbas Nasir wrote, “People are suffering acute gas shortages and this man wants to debate and not accept his abject failures.”

    Adil Shahzeb wrote, “Use of [a] teleprompter is a common practice globally for news shows (for OCs/monologues) to ensure accuracy and manage time (read rate).”

    Anchorperson Muhammad Junaid wrote, “Like PTI’s Favourite Stephen Sackur of BBC was made to sit in a debate moderated by a Neutral Anchor? There is no gas in thousands and thousands of households FIX THAT FIRST MR MINISTER!”

    Journalist Khurram Husain tweeted, “And how will this help plug our winter gas deficit?”

    Aimun, a Twitter user wrote, “Why? Are facts displayed on teleprompters not facts?”

    A Twitter user wrote, “Rather than apologising for causing huge loss to the exchequer n discomfort to the public, this man wants a debate to address the issue.”

    Another Twitter user wrote, “My man’s out here trying to get air time rather than fixing the crisis.”

    Another person tweeted, “The big ‘tu mujhe bahar mil [meet me outside]’ energy.”

    https://twitter.com/chasinggcars/status/1461671639230423045?s=21

    Last week, the government decided to provide gas to the residential sector only three times a day for cooking purposes throughout December to March to minimise gas shortages in Pakistan.