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.
#BREAKING: Prime Minister @CMShehbaz appoints senior journalist @Fahdhusain his special assistant, status equal to federal minister. pic.twitter.com/AInI9zfuoC
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) May 13, 2022
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.
Fahd Hussain has been my editor at The News.A fine gentleman and professional.But his decision to become minister in Shahbaz Sharif Govt will further put dent in already falling credibility of journalism&journalists.We all ll get hit from our critics who think we are sold out.Sad
— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) May 13, 2022
Rauf & I have seldom agreed at any point. But on this point I tend to agree with him. Fahd Hussain is highly educated, a great writer, a valuable critic of Imran Khan, but he has taken an unwise decision; he is more respected than this govt; he should reconsider his position! https://t.co/s9NXWxSts2
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) May 13, 2022
I wish Fahad Hussain should not have accepted this position. He is too good a writer to be part of any government. Journalists and government are adversaries.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) May 14, 2022
Fahd Hussain must have resigned from Dawn after his confirmation as SAPM. Ethically he should have stopped journalism from that day because of any conflict of interest. He has not only made his appointment controversial but also his journalism!!
— Nuzhat Nazar (@amarbail1) May 14, 2022
کیا کسی صحافی کے لیے موزوں ہے کہ وہ حکومتی عہدہ لے اور جب چاہے دوبارہ صحافی بن جائے؟؟؟؟
— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) May 14, 2022
However, other journalists and Twitter users were less skeptical of Husain’s move to politics, and wished him best of luck.
فہد حسین کا باقاعدہ نوٹیفکیشن جاری ہوا لوگوں کو اختلاف کرنے کا حق ہے تاہم یہ بات واضح ہے کہ اس میں کوئی ابہام نہیں کہ وہ معاون خصوصی ہیں ان صحافیوں کو کیا کہا جائے جو پی ٹی آئی کے ترجمان کے طور پر کئی سالوں سے نہ صرف پروگرام/تبصرہ کرتے آئے ہیں بلکہ ورکرز کیطرح ٹرینڈ چلاتے ہیں؟
— Umar Cheema (@UmarCheema1) May 14, 2022
Fahd Husain – beyond his few years of being blindly anti-Imran Khan – is an excellent journalist with a solid body of work and unbiased commentaries. He would be, in my opinion, a valuable addition to Khadim-e-Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif's government. And I wish him all the best.
— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) May 14, 2022
Best wishes and good luck to him. https://t.co/tjZBUx3zxY
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) May 13, 2022
Many good journalists joined politics but failed.Editor in Chief of Dawn Altaf Hussain became Fed Minister of President Ayub Khan, he was a failure. Only those succeeded who contested elections like Kausar Niazi, Hanif Ramey & Ayaz Amir.Anyhow I wish Fahd Hussain best of luck. https://t.co/5ZY8z7pcDP
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) May 14, 2022
I honestly do not understand the criticism of Fahd Hussain becoming SAPM by journalists. Why can't a journalist be SAPM?
I think crticism is more out of jealousy than substance, for 'some' journalists.
— ن (@ThePTITroll) May 14, 2022
Fahd Hussain was one of the few credible, impartial journalists we had in this country. I wonder what would be the takeaway(s) from his stint in this short-lived-government?!
— S. Qurrat ul Ain Shirazi (@annie_shirazi) May 14, 2022
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) social media team began attacking the journalist, suggesting that he was partisan “all along”.
Congratulations to Senior Anchor Fahd Hussain for joining Shahbaz Sharif's Team as SAPM. Hard work pays off! #امپورٹڈ__حکومت__نامنظور pic.twitter.com/2duHLVIAxf
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 13, 2022
–@Fahdhusain commiserations on this appointment as you have brought urself at the level of Mushtaq Minhas and Absar Alam or may be that was your level all along. Shame is a small word for such journalists who behave as neutral but in reality are partisan #امپورٹڈ__حکومت__نامنظور pic.twitter.com/VLcYfliHvQ
— Dr Arslan Khalid (@arslankhalid_m) May 13, 2022
