Khawaja Asif blasts media owners,’It’s all business, no news’

Khawaja Asif blasts Pakistan’s media owners, accusing them of protecting business empires over journalism, as social media emerges as a powerful counterforce.

WEBDESK: September 6, 2025

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has thrown a spotlight on a reality long whispered about in press circles: the country’s media is no longer a platform for journalism, but a fortress for media owners safeguarding their vast business empires.

In a candid television interview, Asif alleged that media channels are operated less as watchdogs of democracy and more as weapons of influence in the hands of tycoons. He pointed to a striking case where a media owner suffered a staggering loss of 70 crore rupees, yet claimed to earn 5 billion rupees through other ventures — a clear indication that newsrooms serve as shields for larger financial and political games.

This is not a new phenomenon. From Malik Riaz Hussain’s ownership of Aap News to Aleem Khan’s acquisition of Samaa TV, media ownership in Pakistan has often been synonymous with power projection and asset protection. Instead of fostering independent journalism, these outlets function as bargaining chips, ensuring their owners remain untouchable in political and judicial corridors.

The system favors the few. With foreign ownership barred and local partnerships capped at 25%, Pakistan’s media industry is a closed club, reinforcing a monopoly where business magnates dictate narratives and silence dissent. The result is an industry where editorial independence is compromised, journalists are sidelined, and the supremacy of media owners overshadows the very idea of a free press.

Yet, as the traditional media empire cements itself as a mafia-like institution, cracks are appearing in its dominance. The rise of social media, with over 70 million active users, is emerging as a disruptive force. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram now provide alternative spaces where citizens challenge narratives, question authority, and expose power plays — something once unthinkable under the iron grip of media barons.

In recent years, social media’s impact has been undeniable, amplifying youth-led movements, exposing military overreach, and bolstering political figures like Imran Khan. This digital shift has not just democratized access to information, but also weakened the monopoly of media owners who for decades controlled Pakistan’s public discourse.

Experts caution that social media brings its own risks — from misinformation to mental health concerns — but agree that it represents the first real counterweight to the entrenched supremacy of media tycoons. For Pakistan, the challenge now lies in striking a balance: regulating online spaces without suffocating the democratic potential they carry.

As Khawaja Asif’s revelation makes waves, one truth stands clear: Pakistan’s media landscape is dominated not by journalism, but by the might of its owners. Yet the digital age is rewriting the rules, offering hope that the voices of the people, not the power of the few, will shape the country’s future narrative.