JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 10, 2024 at 12:12 pm | Imran Naeem Ahmad
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—The remarks made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur against Pakistani journalists have triggered a firestorm of controversy. In an alarming display of misogyny and disrespect, he labeled the journalists as sellouts, accusing them of accepting bribes and being mere brokers for those in power. His words stung the media community, particularly women journalists, and reignited the ongoing debate about the role and integrity of the Pakistani media.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership acted quickly, offering an unconditional apology. However, this hollow gesture did little to appease the outraged journalists who demanded an apology from Gandapur himself. Parliamentary reporters boycotted the National Assembly session in protest, while Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub, along with Barrister Gohar, visited the media gallery to apologize in person. Despite these efforts, journalists remained resolute in their demand for direct accountability.
What’s alarming about Gandapur’s remarks isn’t just the personal attack, but what it says about the broader relationship between the media and political leadership in Pakistan. While the media has rightly condemned his offensive words, it must also take this moment to reflect on its own flaws. Pakistani journalism, while crucial to democracy, has been struggling for years under the weight of corruption, censorship, and bias.
Media outlets, which should be bastions of independent reporting, often rely on government advertising revenues and clandestine deals that shape their coverage. The very system Gandapur railed against—the so-called lifafa journalism—is, unfortunately, a reality in Pakistan. Journalists themselves admit that the profession is deeply fractured, with at least four factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), each with its own loyalties, often swayed by political actors.
The PTI, like previous governments, believes it does not receive fair coverage, feeling marginalized in the broader media landscape. But the truth is, that Pakistan’s media is not united, transparent, or impartial. As Gandapur’s remarks reveal, this is a crisis not only of political discourse but of journalistic integrity.
If Pakistani journalism is to maintain any semblance of credibility, it must move beyond reacting to personal attacks. The media must actively work to rebuild its reputation by prioritizing ethical journalism, rejecting financial and political manipulation, and providing the public with the truth, free from bias or influence.
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.