(Publish from Houston Texas USA)
(By: Asim Siddiqui, Washington, D.C)
Yalda Hakim is an international journalist; however, in recent years, her focus has shifted unusually toward Pakistan’s internal political affairs. This raises an important question:
Why do Pakistan’s domestic issues—particularly Imran Khan and his family—repeatedly become the subject of her programs?
Imran Khan is a former prime minister who is serving a prison sentence following court verdicts, a legal reality. However, Yalda Hakim’s sympathetic and positive interviews with his sons help reinforce a particular narrative. Such interviews generate emotional impact rather than legal clarity, leaning more toward narrative-building than objective journalism.
Similarly, Pakistan’s current government is frequently portrayed as directly responsible in almost every interview, without adequately explaining the country’s political, constitutional, and judicial complexities. Most of Yalda Hakim’s interviews on Pakistani politics come across as harsh, aggressive, and one-sided, with accusations outweighing genuine inquiry.
This approach may appeal to Pakistani audiences, but it also reflects a lack of balance and context. The reality is that for Western media, Pakistan is a subject that offers controversy, emotion, and high engagement.
Organizations like Sky News understand that tough, confrontational content about Pakistan travels well online, which is why such material is repeatedly highlighted. This feels less like journalism and more like algorithm-driven content. The issue is not Yalda Hakim alone, but a broader media model that consistently presents Pakistan as a perpetual defendant.
Until Pakistan’s own media becomes strong, independent, and willing to ask hard questions, External voices will continue to shape Pakistan’s narrative according to their own priorities and interests.
