The appointment of senior journalist and anchorperson Fahd Husain as the special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting has been met with mixed reactions online, with people debating whether his inclusion in the government crosses lines of journalistic ethics and integrity.
While some people remain doubtful of the implications this selection will have for the future of journalism in Pakistan, there are others who don't see this as an unprecedented occurrence and have no objections.
The appointment was announced in a notification issued by the Prime Minister's Office, and mentioned that Husain would be given the status of a federal minister.
The exact details of his portfolio were not revealed.
https://twitter.com/AsadAToor/status/1525196338102673408
The notification read: "The prime minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of Rules of Business, 1973, has been pleased to appoint Syed Fahd Husain as special assistant to the prime minister with the status of federal minister, with immediate effect."
Fahd Husain has served as the resident editor for Dawn in Islamabad, and as an executive editor for Express TV and The Express Tribune. He also hosts a news talk show for Dawn News.
Many senior journalists of the country are doubtful over how this move will play out for the state of journalism in Pakistan.
https://twitter.com/KlasraRauf/status/1525203821365977089
https://twitter.com/MoeedNj/status/1525236876407455744
https://twitter.com/MazharAbbasGEO/status/1525345856274280449
https://twitter.com/amarbail1/status/1525265471683043331
https://twitter.com/AnsarAAbbasi/status/1525383641983254528
However, other journalists and Twitter users were less skeptical of Husain's move to politics, and wished him best of luck.
https://twitter.com/UmarCheema1/status/1525438101576876032
https://twitter.com/MehrTarar/status/1525438790524751872
https://twitter.com/HamidMirPAK/status/1525341877008048129
https://twitter.com/ThePTITroll/status/1525399904121929728
https://twitter.com/annie_shirazi/status/1525357798095306752
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) social media team began attacking the journalist, suggesting that he was partisan "all along".
https://twitter.com/arslankhalid_m/status/1525205788154896390
While some people remain doubtful of the implications this selection will have for the future of journalism in Pakistan, there are others who don't see this as an unprecedented occurrence and have no objections.
The appointment was announced in a notification issued by the Prime Minister's Office, and mentioned that Husain would be given the status of a federal minister.
The exact details of his portfolio were not revealed.
https://twitter.com/AsadAToor/status/1525196338102673408
The notification read: "The prime minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of Rules of Business, 1973, has been pleased to appoint Syed Fahd Husain as special assistant to the prime minister with the status of federal minister, with immediate effect."
Fahd Husain has served as the resident editor for Dawn in Islamabad, and as an executive editor for Express TV and The Express Tribune. He also hosts a news talk show for Dawn News.
Many senior journalists of the country are doubtful over how this move will play out for the state of journalism in Pakistan.
https://twitter.com/KlasraRauf/status/1525203821365977089
https://twitter.com/MoeedNj/status/1525236876407455744
https://twitter.com/MazharAbbasGEO/status/1525345856274280449
https://twitter.com/amarbail1/status/1525265471683043331
https://twitter.com/AnsarAAbbasi/status/1525383641983254528
However, other journalists and Twitter users were less skeptical of Husain's move to politics, and wished him best of luck.
https://twitter.com/UmarCheema1/status/1525438101576876032
https://twitter.com/MehrTarar/status/1525438790524751872
https://twitter.com/HamidMirPAK/status/1525341877008048129
https://twitter.com/ThePTITroll/status/1525399904121929728
https://twitter.com/annie_shirazi/status/1525357798095306752
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) social media team began attacking the journalist, suggesting that he was partisan "all along".
https://twitter.com/arslankhalid_m/status/1525205788154896390