Has Journalist Fahd Husain taken right decision by accepting SAPM slot?
Veteran journalist Fahd Husain has been appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with the status of the federal minister.
ISLAMABAD: Veteran journalist Fahd Husain has been appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with the status of the federal minister, however, his decision for accepting the government slot was criticised by some journalists.
Syed Fahd Husain had earlier given his opinion against the affiliation of a journalist with any political party or a government member.
A notification was issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, stating, “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.”
Hamid Mir said, “Late night development. I was a regular reader of Fahd Husain but never read his column this morning. He joined politics late last night. I wish him good luck but I am also very sad because we lost a good journalist.”
Late night development. I was a regular reader of @Fahdhusain but never read his column this morning. He joined politics late last night. I wish him good luck but I am also very sad because we lost a good journalist. https://t.co/tLTmC9B14R
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) May 14, 2022
A senior journalist Mazhar Abbas wrote on Twitter, “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.”
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
Ahmad Noorani retweeted a picture of Fahd Husain with PM Shehbaz Sharif and mocked him by saying Shehbaz Sharif is doing his work and Fahd Husain is doing his work.
اِس تصویر میں کیا خاص بات ہے؟ شہباز صاحب اپنا کام کر رہے ہیں۔ فہد صاحب اپنا کام کر رہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/IdlfzOYEKq
— Ahmad Noorani (@Ahmad_Noorani) May 14, 2022
The picture was shared on Twitter by Ansar Abbasi with the caption, “Good Luck.”
Rauf Klasra wrote, “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 will get hit by our critics who think we are sold out. Sad.”
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
Mubashir Zaidi said, “In my opinion if a journalist accepts a government position he/she should first announce it publicly with justification before notification of the appointment.”
In my opinion if a journalist accepts a government position he/she should first announce it publicly with justification before notification of the appointment
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) May 14, 2022
Analysts said that Syed Fahd Husain is a conventional journalist who is undoubtedly a skillful journo, however, he will face the new challenges of the social media era after accepting the position which is a difficult task.
Analysts also wondered whether the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government is going to appoint another journalist for keeping a close eye on social media developments.
