Two incidents involving Shahzeb Khanzada and Benazir Shah reveal dangerous fault lines in Pakistani media, where AI harassment, agenda-driven narratives, and public outrage threaten journalist safety and press freedom.
WEBDESK – MediaBites – November 18, 2025
Pakistan’s media landscape is once again under scrutiny as two disturbing incidents — the harassment of GEO News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada in Canada and the circulation of an AI-generated deepfake targeting journalist Benazir Shah — ignite debate over safety, ethics, and the growing weaponization of technology.
While both acts have drawn widespread condemnation, they highlight a deeper issue: Where should the line be drawn between legitimate criticism, political manipulation, and outright harassment?
AI Harassment and Political Amplification
Benazir Shah publicly condemned a deepfake video of her circulating on social media — notably shared by an X account followed by Information Minister Ataullah Tarar. Calling it deliberate harassment, she refused to file a PECA case, arguing that the law has historically been used against journalists rather than to protect them. She called for a complete overhaul of the cybercrime framework.
Fellow journalist Munizae Jahangir backed her stance, noting that such attacks expose the growing intolerance toward independent reporting.
Shahzeb Khanzada and the Blurred Lines of Editorial Responsibility
In another controversy, Shahzeb Khanzada was confronted and shamed by a man in Canada over his coverage of a sensitive maintenance case involving a political figure. While harassment is unequivocally condemnable, critics argue that Khanzada’s reporting — seen by some as agenda-driven — helped fuel public anger.
Senior journalists, including Imtiaz Gul and producer Adeel Raja, said anchors often present narratives shaped by channel owners or political briefs. Yet the public holds anchors, not the unseen architects, responsible — making them lightning rods for outrage.
A Systemic Problem in Media Accountability
Analysts say the two incidents represent two ends of the same crisis:
journalists targeted by technology and mobs, and journalists partaking in coverage shaped by powerful stakeholders.
Experts warn that the absence of ethical safeguards, weak legislation and owner-driven narratives are eroding public trust — and putting journalists directly in harm’s way.
