JournalismPakistan.com | Published May 17, 2020
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Former Dawn journalist Cyril Almeida (pictured) has called columnist Haroon Rasheed a "clown" for claiming that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan after paying $500 million.
In the talk show "Muqabil" on 92News last month, Rasheed, quoting sources, claimed that Sharif paid $500 million in exchange for being allowed to leave the country.
When making the claim, Rasheed said that $445 million had been paid, but he did not know about the remaining "$55 million."
Of late, Almeida has used the word "clown" for anchors, including Nadeem Malik, Javed Chaudhry, and others.
On May 13, commenting on the Nadeem Malik show, Almeida said: "Clown anchor wants politicians to get along, a week after he tried to have a few ministers lynched..."
Similarly, on May 7, he simply said: "The clown brigade descends" while commenting on a tweet of Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi.
When Geo reporter in the UK, Murtaza Ali Shah tweeted on May 2 about a doctor claiming treatment of COVID-19 with a traditional herb, Almeida termed him a clown. "Clown reporter promoting dangerous ideas..."
Almeida also called Javed Chaudhry a clown when he claimed that COVID-19 would end on May 18, citing the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster. "Clown anchor announces that corona will end on May 18 b/c of some religious stuff he has read and, wait for it, the Pleiades star cluster…clown anchor was recently declared by clown mullah Tariq Jameel as one of the best…"
Photo: Twitter (@cyalm)
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.