JournalismPakistan.com | Published June 11, 2021 | Cherie Conela
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD—Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab, has once again become the talk of the town after a recent viral video showed her slapping PPP MNA Qadir Mandokhel during the recording of the TV talk show.
Social media users from across the country are either defending her or speaking out in favor Mandokhel.
In such a situation, questions regarding journalistic ethics and the role of regulator PEMRA have also become part of the debate. The first question is, to what extent is it ethical to release footage of an off-the-record incident?
Since the currently viral video clip on social media did not appear in any satellite transmission, it is not fair to criticize PEMRA. We must understand that it is not the PEMRA's responsibility to keep an eye on what happened during a break in a TV set or recording of a TV show.
PEMRA can only regulate the media content that is transmitted in Pakistan via satellite or cable. Therefore, the issue of the current viral video clip does not fall under its scope.
However, the release of this clip is still a question mark. The incident did not happen at any public place but behind closed doors within the premises of a bona fide media organization—Express News. Therefore, it is also a question of journalistic ethics, integrity, and moral values because the big responsibility lies with the TV management, the anchor, and staff.
Did the participants allow filming during a break in the program Kal Tak? If we examine both guests’ body language and conversation, it seems they have no idea that the video was being recorded.
The role of anchor Javed Chaudhry, standing there helplessly, is also open to question. "I don't know how the footage came out," he said, while commenting on Dunya News. He said the video wasn't leaked from Express News, but one of the individuals who came with the two guests recorded it and shared it on social media.
Chaudhry made no effort to cool down frayed tempers. Thus, the situation does not fit any principles of journalism in the world. First, the incident and then the footage that came out anonymously are, no doubt, condemnable acts.
Although the Express News management is not accepting responsibility for the leakage, sharing the controversial video clip on the official social media accounts of the TV channel prompts more questions about the channel’s suspected involvement for the sake of program ratings.
Dr. Firdous has now served a legal notice on Mandokhail. It is expected that the PPP legislator will also respond in the same tune. However, both parties are ignoring the fact that there is a dire need for a fair and transparent investigation. It is also a matter of the TV channel’s reputation. If the channel management does not identify the culprits, politicians, analysts, and others would avoid coming to the news studio to participate in talk shows.
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.