A hush-hush, informal event organised by a group of Pakistani journalists for foreign reporters in Islamabad stirred controversy after it turned into a platform to attack the government and the Asim Munir-led military establishment. The foreign journalists, some believed to be close to Donald Trump, had arrived in Pakistan to cover the anticipated US-Iran peace talks and were invited for what was projected as an informal meet-and-greet at the Islamabad Press Club.
However, the event turned political, with US journalist Caitlin Doornbos, who was among the attendees, saying that she felt "deceived" and "used". Apart from Doornbos, senior journalists from Al Jazeera, CNN and other publications were also invited.
Two prominent anti-establishment Pakistani journalists, Matiullah Jan and Asad Ali Toor, used the gathering to speak openly about what they called the disturbing state of press freedom in Pakistan and alleged harassment of journalists. They reportedly criticised the policies of the Shehbaz Sharif-led government and raised concerns over extra-judicial killings.
Several foreign reporters were caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events. The controversy intensified after a group photo of the foreign journalists was used to put out a political statement that made a string of allegations against the government.
The photos were circulated in a manner that suggested their implicit solidarity with the criticism of the government.
The use of the National Press Club (NPC) logo in the statement made it seem like an official event. Pakistani media reported that the foreign journalists were also presented with a shield that allegedly featured an Indian flag.
Doornbos, a reporter with the New York Post, perceived to be pro-Trump, was the first to distance herself from the event. The journalist tweeted that she felt "deceived" as she attended the event in a professional capacity and did not anticipate that her images would get associated with any political narrative.
"Did anyone ask the foreign journalists whose photos are now associated with this how they felt about it?" Doornbos tweeted.
"I feel deceived and used. I would have enjoyed learning more about the media landscape privately, but our images were blasted out in association with a political statement implying our solidarity in criticising a foreign government in which we are guests," she further said.
Her post immediately gained traction online.
A Pakistani journalist, Maryam Nawaz Khan, later clarified that only a small portion of the event included a discussion on the "real face" of "independent journalism" in Pakistan.
"A lot of fuss on international journalists event in the National Press Club is going on... If this would have been hosted by any of the system's self-claimed spokesperson, the case would have been different," Maryam tweeted.
She also flagged how dozens of Pakistani journalists have been forcibly "picked up" by state agencies for allegedly spreading "anti-Pakistan" narratives. "Dissent has been criminalised, be it journalists, academics, activists, or lawyers," Maryam further said.
The event, however, seems to have caught the attention of the government. Within 24 hours of the event, journalist Matiullah Jan announced his resignation from Neo News TV. No reason was given for the surprise move.
"My journey with the Neo News TV has abruptly come to an end... This is not the first time or the first government during which I have to face such a situation," Jan, who is known for his investigative reporting and outspoken criticism of the government, posted on X.
Toor, the other journalist who attended the event, suggested in a post on X that political pressure was behind Jan's dismissal.
Several media personnel also came out in support of Jan. Baloch journalist Kiyya Baloch blamed Doornbos for his sacking.
"A Pakistani journalist lost his job after Caitlin Doornbos promoted a wave of hate against him on X," Baloch tweeted. He further said that Jan would be remembered for his "courageous journalism".
Pakistani media reported that Jan was asked to postpone the event by the press club, but he still went ahead with it. The episode reflects the broader divide in Pakistan's media landscape under the Sharif-Munir regime.
Source: India Today