PESHAWAR: Widely regarded by its viewers as the leading voice of Pashtuns in Pakistan and abroad, Khyber News has long played a central role in highlighting issues affecting Pashto-speaking communities. As Pakistan’s prominent Pashto-language news and current affairs channel, it has built a reputation for bringing regional concerns to the national spotlight.
Against this backdrop, the Khyber News boycott of KP government activities took a dramatic turn during a provincial government press conference in Peshawar, where the channel’s reporter staged a protest and walked out of the event.
The incident took place during a media briefing attended by provincial ministers. The Khyber News reporter took a firm stand against what he termed the provincial government’s continued disregard for regional media outlets and called for greater recognition of channels serving local communities.
Addressing the ministers before leaving the briefing, the reporter said that the provincial government never made time for Khyber TV despite its role in informing and representing the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pashto-speaking audiences around the world.
As a mark of protest, the reporter announced that Khyber News would not cover the press conference. He also warned that if the government’s approach toward the channel remained unchanged, the boycott could be extended to future official events and activities.
After delivering the statement, the Khyber News team left the briefing room, drawing immediate attention from government officials and journalists present at the event.
The walkout highlighted concerns about the relationship between the provincial administration and regional media organizations. Supporters of the channel argue that media outlets serving local communities deserve equal access and recognition alongside larger national broadcasters.
The protest has sparked discussion within media circles about government engagement with regional news organizations and the importance of ensuring that local voices remain part of the public discourse in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
For many viewers, the incident was more than a protest at a press conference; it was a reminder of the influence regional media continues to hold in representing the concerns and aspirations of the people it serves.
