Netizens slam Pakistani journalist over ‘unethical’ reporting
A Pakistani journalist was heavily criticized by social media after lying down inside the grave of a deceased philanthropist before the corpse was laid to rest.
The unidentified reporter, who works for Pakistani news site Express-News, covered the funeral of Abdul Sattar Edhi, who passed away last June 8 due to kidney failure, Times of India reported. Edhi was 88. In an “unethical” manner, the reporter clamped himself inside the grave which Edhi prepared for himself 25 years ago.
Fahd Hussain, the news site’s executive news director, apologized in behalf of the reporter through Twitter.
1/4 Last night at 3.45am a clip was aired once on Express News in which one of our reporters was lying inside the grave prepared for Edhi sb
— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) July 9, 2016
2/4 The clip was pulled off air as soon as it was brought to the notice of the editorial management
— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) July 9, 2016
3/4 The clip violated all social & journalistic ethics & should not have gone on air. We are taking action against those responsible
— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) July 9, 2016
4/4 we apologise to our viewers for hurting their sentiments and assure them of our commitment to the highest standards of journalism
— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) July 9, 2016
Screenshots of the “gravely inappropriate” report surfaced on Twitter and the journalist was slammed by many Pakistani users.
Reporting from Edhi’s grave shows how unethical and unprofessional Pakistani media is.
— Fiza (@fizamari) July 9, 2016
Express news reporter reporting live from Edhi’s grave. Sick Pakistani media. pic.twitter.com/Ql0gNbJgC1
— Sheharyar Goraya (@gorayaism) July 9, 2016
Sab sey pehley Express News par!Reporter reaches Edhi’s grave before him.
Get this idiot thrown in a mental ward. pic.twitter.com/FTXDgnYeIY— NadeemFarooqParacha (@NadeemfParacha) July 9, 2016
Will @reportpemra take notice of this unethical and sick reporting by @ExpressNewsPK? Perhaps ban them. Condemnable pic.twitter.com/iezvI6LEwv
— Kamil Khan Marwat (@KKhanMarwat) July 9, 2016
Journalism reporting live from its grave pic.twitter.com/vjv5eVLIuV
— Suckularism (@SupariTroller) July 9, 2016
Abdul Sattar Edhi, widely known as Pakistan’s “Father Teresa” and “Angel of Mercy,” was born in India in 1928 but moved to neighboring Pakistan in 1947. He was the well-respected founder of Edhi Foundation in the country and spearheaded its operations for six decades. Gianna Francesca Catolico
