Syed Kamran Hashmi | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Conflict of interest in the media

Pakistan Press Foundation

Seriously, how can someone claim to conduct a ‘neutral’ political talk show when he is an active member of a political party? It is like having an umpire in cricket who plays for the opposing team. Surprised by this notion of neutrality, if you raise an objection, do you know what they are going to […]


Taking on the ISI

Pakistan Press Foundation

When a bomb was found under Hamid Mir’s car a few weeks ago, I thought it was a message that would never become a reality. Unfortunately, I was wrong and Hamid Mir was right. He lies in a bed today, weak and injured, struggling to survive the assassination attempt. After the attack, there is no […]


The plight of writers and Pakistan

Pakistan Press Foundation

After intense negotiations, a friend of mine was offered Rs 2,000 for his column each week if the organisation determined the quality of his material as being exceptional, its message clear, its facts verifiable, its style unique, its language outstanding. Yes, in a country where the minimum wage is Rs 7,000 for a minimally trained […]


Should journalists accept official positions?

Pakistan Press Foundation

When Mian Nawaz Sharif appointed Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi as the ambassador of Pakistan in Norway, I honestly did not think too much about that nomination. My reason then was and still is simple: after a long decade of relentless power struggle, administrative immaturity and political intolerance, it was not considered to be that big a problem. […]


Ramzan: a month of television ratings

Pakistan Press Foundation

In the light of this indecency and non-stop artificial religiosity, even God is going to celebrate Eid with the poor Pakistanis this year As soon as the official announcement about the commencement of Ramzan is made, people joyously start congratulating each other and the whole environment in Pakistan, without any exaggeration, is spiritually invigorated. Genuinely […]