Zebunnisa Burki

Karachi

Deputy Editor at The News International

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Articles

A ceasefire, a meltdown in Indian newsrooms

3 weeks ago | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: Saturday evening’s surprise ceasefire announcement between India and Pakistan was met with a predictable media storm across Indian television news channels, where facts were sidelined in favour of nationalist bombast, dubious claims and bizarre interpretations -- particularly aimed at downplaying the role of US President Donald Trump, who had announced the development on his TruthSocial account.
India brought the hysteria, Pakistan brought the memes

4 weeks ago | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: Have you heard of Captain Janabuddin? No? Well, the Indians have. He’s the imaginary pilot Pakistani memers have been mocking Indian journalists with on their claims to have ‘arrested’ Pakistani pilots. And that’s certainly not all. An Indian tweet says: “Tomorrow Pakistan will experience something it never has”. And Pakistani users on X take it as a challenge of: who wins this meme? Answer: pretty much all of them.
UN’s Article 51 in focus after Indian aggression

1 month ago | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: As India insists its military action was “restrained and non-escalatory”, Pakistan has invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter to justify its right to self-defence, warning of a robust response — even as legal experts ponder over how far international law permits retaliation beyond immediate defence.
Don’t underestimate China’s commitment to defending Pakistan’s sovereignty: Chinese scholar

1 month ago | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: A TV ‘reporter’ circles a tree, crouches beside a hollow in the trunk, and solemnly announces how such a cavity could be used as a “natural hideout” by ‘aatankwadis’ (aka terrorists). But the reporter is just a symptom of a wider, more dangerous trend: Indian TV news’ hyper-nationalist, paranoia-fueled coverage following the recent Pahalgam attacks.
Kashmir back in global spotlight: Pak diplomats

1 month ago | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: The Pahalgam attack has not only reignited diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan but also cast fresh international scrutiny on the unresolved Occupied Kashmir dispute, say Pakistani diplomats who warn that India’s aggressive rhetoric and response risk sparking a wider crisis.
Indian newsrooms become war rooms

1 month ago | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: Where official statements and responses from India following the Pahalgam attack in Occupied Kashmir fell short in terms of diplomacy, restraint, maturity and responsibility, other quarters in India were equally quick to abandon reason for war-mongering. Hindustan Times reported that the Pahalgam attack occurred around 3:00pm on Tuesday. By 3:05pm — just five minutes later — Indian social media was already blaming Pakistan.
Can a judge be transferred from one high court to another with seniority intact?

Jan 31, 2025 | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: Legal experts are divided over the constitutional questions that arise with the potential transfer of a judge to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), with concerns raised about the use of Article 200 of the constitution. While some argue that the process must follow strict constitutional guidelines, others question the fairness of transferring a judge with seniority intact, potentially disrupting the judicial hierarchy.
Journalists, activists rally against Peca amendment

Jan 28, 2025 | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: Journalists and digital rights activists across Pakistan have fiercely condemned the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Peca) (Amendment) Bill 2025, with protests erupting nationwide on Tuesday after the amendment law was passed by the Senate amid significant backlash. Journalists led the charge in cities like Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, vowing to continue their fight against what they deem a draconian law.
Peca amendments make bad law worse, say digital rights activists

Jan 22, 2025 | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016 have drawn sharp criticism from legal and digital rightsa experts, who warn they could curtail free speech, empower state agencies to stifle dissent, and erode judicial oversight. The amendments have also sparked fears of arbitrary enforcement and a chilling effect on social media.
Civil disobedience: defiance or disruption?

Dec 7, 2024 | thenews.com.pk | Zebunnisa Burki

KARACHI: Academics and analysts say that genuine civil disobedience targets specific laws peacefully, though actions like bill refusals can incur penalties, and that Asuch movements risk deterring investment and creating economic uncertainty.