Ahmed Hasan Piracha
Arshad Sharif was a prominent Pakistani journalist known for his investigative reporting and political analysis. He worked for various national and international media outlets and hosted the famous talk show Power Play on ARY News. He was also awarded several prestigious awards for his journalistic work, such as the Pride of Performance, the Agahi Award, and the Asian Investigative Media Award.
One can look at his achievements, challenges, and controversies in his career to critically evaluate his journalistic standards. Sharif was reputed for breaking exclusive stories and exposing corruption and malpractices in the government and other institutions. He relied on credible sources and verified information before airing his reports. He also used data and documents to support his claims and arguments. For example, he revealed the details of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s offshore assets and money laundering in the Panama Papers case. He also exposed the involvement of former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a money laundering scheme. He was also critical of the regime change operation, where PDM came into power through a vote of no confidence. According to many sources, it was the reason he had to flee the country and eventually was killed on October 23, 2022, in Kajiado, Kenya.
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His ethics and professionalism are celebrated in Pakistan. Sharif followed the code of conduct and ethics prescribed by PEMRA, the media regulatory authority in Pakistan. He respected the privacy and dignity of his subjects and avoided sensationalism and bias in his reporting. He also maintained a balance between public interest and national security and refrained from disclosing sensitive information that could endanger lives or compromise national interests. Accordingly, he withdrew large audiences from his programs.
His courage and independence are also praised in Pakistani media. Sharif faced many threats and challenges in his career due to his bold and critical reporting. He was harassed, intimidated, and attacked by various actors, including politicians, militants, and others. He also faced legal cases and bans on his programs. Despite these pressures, he did not compromise on his journalistic principles and continued to speak truth to power. He also defended the freedom of expression and the rights of journalists in Pakistan. For example, he challenged the censorship imposed by PEMRA on his program Power Play in 2017. He also supported the protests by journalists against the curbs on media freedom in 2019.
Based on these aspects, Arshad Sharif had high journalistic standards and was considered one of the best journalists in Pakistan. He contributed to the development of investigative journalism and political commentary in the country and raised awareness about important issues affecting society. He also inspired many young journalists to follow in his footsteps and uphold the values of journalism. The nation remembers him for his valorous journalism.
