Writer's Column

 Pakistan, where the pen should be mightier than the sword, is at a crossroads as the once-vibrant press faces unprecedented dangers. A rise in physical assaults on journalists, combined with worrisome legislative maneuverings, portrays a troubling picture. Let us now look at the specific difficulties that have put a shadow over the Fourth Estate. The Brave Are Bruised - Physical Assaults on Journalists The 2021 brazen attack on journalist Asad Ali Toor in his own house is not an isolated occurrence, but rather a sign of a larger problem. Unidentified thugs, allegedly linked to security forces, attacked Toor with ferocity, sending shockwaves across the journalistic community. This is not just an attack on people; it is an attack on the entire core of a free press. Government Complicity - A Silent Menace While the perpetrators may be nameless shadows, the participation of the governmental apparatus in silencing dissent is a concerning fact. From financial pressure to social media ha...

 By Nishwa Tasavvar | Interview Report   Link to the full interview report |  Interview Transcript  Link to the research article |  Research Article Within the dynamic field of journalism, certain stories manage to go beyond the news cycle and get ingrained in the public mind. Aleeza Arshad, the daughter of the late investigative journalist Arshad Sharif, provided us with a deep insight into her father's legacy and the ongoing quest for justice about his untimely death. Arshad Sharif: A Legacy Not Just for the News We start the interview by discussing the main points of Arshad Sharif's legacy. Aleeza's memories provide a clear image of a devoted father and a journalist who was devoted to finding the truth. From his early morning literary endeavors to the significant importance of investigative journalism on family life, Arshad Sharif is shown to be a complex individual whose influence beyond the confines of his career. Continuity thru Dedication: Alee...

Arshad Sharif was a Pakistani journalist, writer, and television news anchor. His area of expertise was investigative journalism, and he covered several national and international news organizations' coverage of the nation's political events, including those in the United Kingdom. Arshad Sharif, a Pakistani journalist, was shot and killed in Kajiado, Kenya, by local police on 23 October 2022. An interview with Aleeza Arshad on the First Anniversary of the Tragic Death of Her Father, Investigative Slain Journalist Arshad Sharif Aleeza Arshad, the daughter of late Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif and I had a short Zoom interview where we reminisced on his first death anniversary and reciprocated fond memories of him, indulging deep into the incidents leading to his murder. Aleeza expressed how she is keeping her father’s legacy alive and decided to pursue media studies by making her first debut on the same news channel as her father. We talked about how the entire family expres...

  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN A POST COVID 19 WORLD Covid 19 has changed the world altogether. Centuries-old activities have come to a standstill. The whole framework has been transformed into a new format. So the world has to think out of the box and take the usual steps to keep the economies and unhindered as much as possible. Covid 19 has hit harder the weaker segments of societies and weaker countries and economies of the world. So the steps should be to outdo the negative effects and support the more vulnerable sections of societies. No doubt sustained development in such a situation is a herculean task. So great test and tasks of world leaders are to come out of their comfort zones, political and geographical rivalries, rise above at the level of humanity, and think not just about their masses but also have spillover effects on their surrounding countries, societies and entities. For example, education is a hard-hit area whereby schools are shut down for a long and ind...

                                                                Blessing in Disguise Let’s not discuss the COVID-19 particularly , Let’s not curse the year 2020 , Let’s not talk about the way the Governments are tackling it , Let’s put it all aside , Let’s take a moment to reflect the impacts of this current situation on ourselves, our lives. Not even a single soul on this planet is left unaffected by the heat and smoke of the spreading fire of present circumstances. Everybody, YOU and ME both, is struggling, struggling really hard to get through it anyhow. The increasing ratio of deaths and diseases. The snowballing of absolute poverty all round the world. The irrevocable loss in economy. Is this all, being swayed by the COVID-19? (*inserts the outward-facing V sign*) The fundamental aspect we are missing out here is, our...