annashay 
Role of anchor is to keep people informed what is happening in the country and rest of the world with special attention towards those countries Pakistan has friendly and diplomatic relations. But practically it has been observed that TV anchors have assumed role of government functionaries discussing everything except problems being faced by 250 million people. English rulers governed this sub-continent employing rule of “Divide and Rule”. There is well known saying press and nation falls together. Pakistan media stands divided and fully exposed. This single step has taken them away from real mission and objectives. Those in favor are adequately rewarded and those in opposition camps face problems and restrictions. They are wasting time of people by floating stories of leaders and their families. Their discussion starts criticizing establishment, judiciary, bureaucracy and character assassination of leaders under the cover of freedom of press. They think they know everything whereas they are ignorant about everything and far away from ground realities. I always call them internet anchors and journalists. Gone are the days when reporters were considered backbone of news aired. These days the favorite topic is criticism on opposition and its leaders. People are fed up and majority of people has stopped watching TV. The moment program starts the intro exposes how the program has been framed who is the beneficiary and who is the sponsor of the program. Freedom of speech does not mean anchors should discuss personal life of any leader and when asked to verify refuse to give SOURCE. Source here is used as cover to air false stories and easily get away with false and fabricated news and views. Since the arrival of electronic media majority of the anchors give impression as if they know everything whereas their information is restricted to information leaked by various government functionaries.
TV talk shows in Pakistan are failing the public. People are sick of repetitive, predictable narratives, disproportionate focus on PTI whether supportive or critical with little attention to 250 million citizens’ real issues. Their main focus remains personalities instead of policies. These issues are structural, not just the fault of individual anchors. Channels chase ratings and ratings come from controversy and controversy comes from political fighting. So, people feel their time is wasted because national problems rarely receive sustained, serious discussion. Instead laying off anchors, taking action under PECA a better approach, strengthening PEMRA rules on defamation, unverified allegations, personal attacks, conflict of interest and paid content disguised as journalism. The best solution is enforcing existing journalistic standards by giving equal time to multiple viewpoints. Prioritize issue-based reporting (economy, education, inflation, governance) and demand fact checking and evidence. Besides, promote transparency. If anchors or journalists are accused of corruption or receiving benefits, they should respond publicly, but this must happen through proper legal and journalistic mechanisms, not media trials. Freedom of speech is not to freedom to malign people. Character assassination & personal life discussions needs to be banned. A responsible journalist must avoid discussing private lives, unverified accusations, manufactured scandals, misleading headlines. Pakistan’s media industry often blurs the line between journalism and entertainment, which damages trust. Many young anchors have entered media without ground reporting experience, without deep research skills
This creates the impression they “know everything” while being far from grounded in Pakistan’s political history.FM Asim Munir rightly said that content received on cell phone is forwarded without verification by saying “Forwarded as received”.
Any allegations made by anyone including Malik Riaz should be investigated through legal channels, not used as ammunition for media mudslinging. Anchors should respond if serious claims are made, but only through proper accountability systems, not on-air fight. People want quality journalism for that PEMRA to enforce nonpolitical conduct rules. There is need to promote training for journalists in ethics and research. When viewership declines, channels must change. People are tired of political theatre and want real journalism. Pakistan doesn’t need bans and restrictions it needs accountability, higher standards, and issue-based reporting.
Night after night, millions of Pakistanis tune in to television hoping to hear serious discussion about the issues that shape their lives. Instead, they are greeted by talk shows that recycle the same narrow political narratives, dominated by predictable attacks, personal gossip, and pre-scripted agendas. What passes for “current affairs” today too often resembles political theatre rather than journalism. A striking pattern has emerged across mainstream channels: no matter the topic, every discussion begins with criticism on PTI and ends with PTI that has resulted in more popularity. When you overdo anything it rebounds back not understood by many. This singular fixation has become so entrenched that viewers can predict the entire program from the opening headlines alone. Meanwhile, the lived reality of 250 million Pakistanis rising inflation, collapsing public education, health issues, unemployment, governance failures, corruption, poor law and order situation and national development rarely finds more than a passing mention.
Pakistan’s media landscape is suffering from a credibility crisis. Anchors routinely drift into commentary without evidence, debate without research, and accusations without verification. Instead of moderating discussions, many behave as though they are the only authorities on politics, statecraft, governance and national issues and keep passing judgements. The result is an environment where heat replaces light and noise replaces knowledge. Private matters of political leaders become fair game, and personal lives are dissected on national television under the guise of “analysis.” Freedom of speech is essential to democracy, but it does not justify character assassination, gossip, or unverified claims presented as fact. When journalism descends into sensationalism, the biggest casualty is public trust. Perhaps most troubling is the selective outrage embedded in these programs. Political parties are dissected nightly, yet powerful state institutions including judiciary rarely receive the scrutiny their decisions warrant. This selective accountability has conditioned the public to focus on political personalities instead of structural realities.
A democracy cannot function when its media avoids questioning power. Issue-based journalism has virtually disappeared, leaving citizens ill-informed about the machinery of governance that affects their daily lives. In recent years, allegations some accompanied by claims of documentation have been levelled against several media figures. When journalists demand transparency from politicians, they must also demonstrate it themselves. Anchors accused of financial, ethical, or professional misconduct owe the public a clear response, not silence. Accountability cannot be one-directional. Media accountability must apply to anchors too. Frustration has led many Pakistanis to call for banning political talk shows altogether. But bans are a blunt instrument that undermine press freedom and invite abuse. Once censorship becomes normalized, it rarely stops with the programs people dislike. The real solution is reform, not restriction, Pakistan Needs a Higher Standard of Journalism. PEMRA must enforce existing rules with consistency and courage, strict action against unverified allegations, discussing private lives of individuals, Mandatory fact-checking and sourcing, Clear disclosures of conflicts of interest fair representation of all political viewpoints.
Media houses must invest in training, research, and ethical standards. Anchors need grounding in Pakistan’s political history, constitutional law, and socioeconomic issues-not just rhetorical flair. Finally, talk shows must broaden their focus beyond the politics of the moment. Pakistan’s young population deserves informed debate on education, technology, economy, healthcare, governance, climate, and institutional reform. Pakistan is a complex country facing serious challenges that cannot be addressed through nightly shouting matches. When media reduces politics to personalities, it deprives the nation of the thoughtful discourse required for progress. It is time for Pakistani television channels to rise above theatrics and return to its democratic responsibility. Informing the public honestly, courageously, and respectfully. A media that serves the people not political agendas is not just desired it is essential for Pakistan’s future.
