I can’t believe PTV asked ASMA to not wear head scarf as a news caster..
nice interview like it .. wish you good luck ASma

Hey that was an excellent interview. I think the questions you asked gave a real good insight into the process and the thinking of a woman anchorperson. I don’t believe in the Hijaab thing, but I support her right to wear it if she is making a conscious decision. Aside from that it was very informative.

I think you could also ask more questions about their literary and cultural influences like favorite books, poets, authors etc. I wonder about this because I see all these really intelligent people like Nusrat, Talat, AaSmaa, Shaahid etc. and one always wonders what college they went to, what authors they read, what poets etc.. what are their influences ..

,I think this series is an excellent way to have an intimate look into the lives of people who are making a critical difference in our History. Because of programs such as this one, we are witness to their struggles, and we support them. These interviews will be historical documents one day good work!

Let me know if anyone is interested in audio MP3 version and I will upload that. Please also feel free to request audio version of any video on this site in the comments and I will upload that.

Admin

Hearing this interview, I see a breath of fresh air in Pakistani journalism. Asma has shown herself as a woman of courage and strength. It reminds you of the fact that Pakistan is not short of talent. It is a pleasant surprise to see a woman of talent and integrity in a difficult and challenging times.

Journalists are among the creative minority that has a role in the revival of society. Pk politics has taken an unusual action in showcasing elements of this creative minority.

Anchor person should have introduced himself as well. He has done a good job in conducting a quality interview with incisive questioning. It is a good piece of decent journalism. Keep up the good work.

Shame on ptv, Musharraf will be answerable for these actions of trying to force young girls to take off their obligatory head scarf. Really ashamed to hear these comments being disclosed by a progressive, forward looking and a strong lady. We support Asma shirazi and other memebers of the free media against Musharraf’s facism.

hi admin hope u ok. if u dont mind can u put ur videos to quicktime player(apple mac) friendly so loads of peoples can see them on there new iphone is there any possibility if not then please do in mp3 format so they can listen them

It seems like these questions and answer session have not been done at the same time.

Probably question video clips were added later on in the video.

anyways keep up the good work

Aasma,

I am sure you will read these comments after your interview has been put on pkpolitics.com.

Let me say, well done, keep it and god bless you. I have been watching almost every program of yours. You are a pride for Pakistan, especially for those who are living away from the country.

I had never thought Journalism as a profression, and that too for a woman, but trust me after watching your interview, i am thinking to suggest my two year old daughter to follow your footprints.

May Allah give you more courage, and be helpful towards your life.

Thanks, and keep the good work going.

Thanks admin for much needed fresh views from Pakistan. Is it possible to get the direct contact (email) of the host, if we have any suggestion for the host.

Thanks again!

Asma, I know you will read my comment as you yourself said in the interview that you visit this website regularly Otherwise there was no way I could tell you that how great of a job you have done by giving this interview and Pkpolitics team has done a greater job interviewing you. I said a great job because I have a faith that you people speak the truth and that ‘truth’ is an inspiration for me as a young student studying in America. I think those of my age here in states and in Pakistan are looking for hope regarding political situation in Pakistan, and I see that hope in you, Talat Hussain, Hamid Mir, Kashif Abbasi, Nusrat Javed, Mushtaq Minhas and Dr. Shahid Masood. Asma, you people are really an inspiration for me. I love you!!

thanks God Pakistan is not run by the Barbaric Mullahs of Lal Masjid or Wariristan otherwise She {Asma and the women Like her} would have been slogged in Public for propagating “Fahashi” on TV.

Nice contribution to the archive here. Looks like PKPOLITICS is becoming GEO for web surfers.
Where is Hamid MIr?, Somebody talk to Mushtaq Minhas too.

We read that Pakistan was formed because of an untiring effort by MSF lead by Muslim League under a lawyer, Quaid-e-Azam. Let the students of Pakistan, the young voters be EDUCATED tremendously. Only hope for Pakistan is in her youth. EDUCATE THEM. DO WHAT YOU CAN DO.
PKPOLITICS IS DOING JUST GREAT.
Keep it up.

Very encouraging interview for women of Pakistan. I would like to see that Pakistani working men to working women ratio becomes 1:1. Its not only better for everyone due to the fact it will take half burden off men’s shoulders but also change the environment in Pakistan that teaches women to waste time which is not of any value to our society. It will also help them understand their counterparts better. However, women should not adopt way that would be against Allah’s will (leaving this topic on each individual to decide on what Allah’s will is regarding women).

But my likes and dislikes should not matter in front of important factors that women should know that as wife or mother they are the ones whom husband and children depends on, good home environment depends on, education of kids depends on, bringing up of kids depends on etc. If women can keep up the standard of life with their families then its great otherwise preference should be given to home.

Congratulations Asma on achieving lot in less time. Keep it up and good luck.

@Awais
Please leave this for Allah to decide who is right and wrong… and at the same time think of a scenario that if your loved one (if you’re selfish then only family member otherwise any human and even any animal) become victim and there is no system to support you to get justice and at the same time government agents helping you adopt forceful attitude to achieve what you think is better then what would you do? Its very unfortunate that government didn’t discourage injustices of wrong people but instead encouraged adoption of force among people who needed justice for their society (as we all know that people of that community used to go to this masjid for help on issues where they did not get justice from current system).

I would like to see Asma’s analysis on Lal Masjid incident as well.

whats wrong in being identified as a women?, why are you hesitant to demand more respect and rights as a women, why only ask for equality? why not ask for what Allah promised with you ?
I think you are hope for people like me who wants to give more independence to women but are scared of western demoralization ,
very impressive personality,
keep faith you will be back on tv soon
salute to Miss Asma Sherazi, a symbol of muslim working women.

All in all a very good interview which sets many things in a right perspective. I was not aware of that she (Asma) also was banned. In my opinion having a ban on appearing on television these days is an honor and an achievement. I salute all those journalists who are making sacrifices to bring out truth to the Pakistani masses. After all it is not that easy a task as many people think. These journalists face a lot of hardship which we as Pakistan lovers should appreciate…..THANK YOU, Asma for your sacrifices which I regard even higher than of your male colleagues.

I have one important request to you. The request is in fact to all Pakistanis, but the effect will be much higher if you start doing it. Please avoid speaking English in Urdu programs. By doing that many people don’t understand the whole meaning of a debate or a sentence and that’s a pity, because we should have maximum effect of your interviews especially because you are fighting a just cause. Another factor is that Urdu as a language is being degraded slowly and effectively. It is common fault committed in Pakistan that one “have” to speak English to show that one is a well educated person. I don’t think this is the case with you (not at this stage), but maybe it has been that in the past and now it has become a habit. Maybe you need to focus a little bit on this issue to enhance Urdu and thereby reach out to an even bigger audience. Please don’t see it as any suggestion not to learn and speak English. The request is only that we should focus on the audience we are trying to reach out to and to avoid “hurting” Urdu.

/Saqib

Very Good effort by admin.
Keep it up.
Asma Sheerazi is also very popular for her programs. I hope good time will be come for her and others like Kashif Abbasi, Shahid Masood and Hamid Mir.

Really good interview. She has conducted herself with so much dignity . She has never stepped over the line ever in any of her programmes so her being banned is a result of sheer paranoia on the part of the government. Nothing makes sense anymore. But I wish her good luck and hope she and the others are back on air soon.

I recall reading an interview of a very talented young Pakistani singer about thirty years ago. Almost, every ustaad she sought, to excel her performance, asked her to go out for a dinner or offered to take her to a movie. Obviously, she refused. Her career lingered on with just a few brand new songs a year.

Sexual harassment may not be in Pakistani lexicon, but I am sure it is still prevalent in corporate Pakistan will full gentleman pride. In such an intimidating environment every woman of conscience who works with dignity in this manly Pakistani job market is worthy of praises.

I have to admire the courage of Asma Sherazi who against all odds has been successfully climbing up the echelons of her career.

Many words of admiration to pkpolitics.com for bringing this bold and beautiful interview to the Web. I realize that you work with a petite budget. But still, may I suggest improving the audio quality of your contents?

@ asma sherazi
u r right , it was 1998 , PCS exam in hockey stadium lahore , december, too much fog and Islamic studies was the last paper.
asma was only 2 chairs ahead of me. i was there too. mujhay uss waqatt he yaqeen ho gya tha kay ye larkii baree ho ker kuch na kuch zaroor karay gee. i m happy mera andazaa darustt sabit huwa.
@ admin
mujhay aik baat btayoo aap , ye ” first woman chief martial law ” wala swaal kioon poocha aap nay, frank honay ke achchee kooshish , lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,
well done admin , plz capture wasi zafar or durrani for interview.

Asma Sherazi is a very decent person. Best of luck to her. I hope that she would be able to do her journalistic duties in an even better way after we replace dictators.

Well done Asma for leaving PCS exams. We have enough of them doing nothing already.

So Asma encountered professional jealousy in Geo that’s why she joined ARY. I tell you honestly Asma it’s not sub-continent specific, this happens all across the world.

Don’t have words to thank and appreciate both the interviewer and interviewee. Though it was about an hour, yet seemed too little. All the questions were, well phrased, important and desired. All the answers were pet, exact and to the point. Asma, as always in your programme when your body language, your face expressions second to what you are saying, the viewer has no choice but to believe in your words. Your pronunciation, choice of words and theme of what you say is excellent but above all what you say in between the lines is unmatched. Excuse me. And yes we apologize that at many instances we have neglected Asma while missing the contemporary anchor persons.
One more thing that in the recent past their were two dilemma in Pakistan. One for the sincere politicians that whether to go into elections or boycott them. The other was to journalists that if to save their name and fame (integrity and dignity) and just go off the scene instead of diluting the facts while on air OR to be on the scene, lower down the tone and do as little as you can ( instead of doing nothing reciprocally). Time has proven that those who boycotted are perhaps repenting as they have left the space open for those who are just from the opposite pool and the party/ies of the same motto (say PMLn) is/has to experience the fall out. In the much way same I would like to suggest to not only Asma but to all other media heroes to “ paiwasta reh shajar se, umeed-e-bahar rakh” and please don’t leave the vacuum in media by not compromising ( if Khuda-nahawasta situation does not change positively even after elections) as it will be filled by only those whome we don’t want to fill it. So I would like to all of you, do wait for the best time but in the meanwhile stick around and try to put a drop of water on the fire of Namrood. Believe me when their will be people like P.J Mir in media, after all who will tune in?
With prayers, wishes and respect,
Ayaz,
Halle, Germany.

it’s time to have an interview with Dr. Shahid Masood as well.

asma , why dont u join any international channel like al-jazeera or BBC. i m sure u can do that.
@ ajnabi larki
aap sabb ko canada anay ka mashwraa daitee hoo, asma ko bhee bula loo canada.

I would like to see Syed Talat Hussain interviewed next. Maybe ask a few questions from the site users as well?

My suggestion would be to allow people to pose the questions, then create a multi-selection poll and let everyone vote on which questions should be asked, and then take the top-5 questions and ask your guest that.

@ lonelybird
Asma has done a wise decision by staying in Pakistan. She could have gone to Canada and feel so miserable to visit pkpolitics 10 times a day and suggest others to come (and suffer) lol

lau jee a new formula by tabann khamossh , lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,
only 5 questions interview .
lagta hay attaa buhat hee mehngaa ho gya pakistan main , lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@ asma sherazi
by the way asma sherazi has proved that hijaab is not an obstacle and any woman with hijab can make progress too. she is a prominent figure as anchor person on news channels. her confidence is always visible from her eyes and way of discussion. the way she avoids to answer few questions in interview shows her maturity and professionalism.
well done once again asma and well done admin.
and admin plz dont follow taban khamossh’s formula of 5 questions, his suggestion contains hazardous material.

@ admin

I think Taba’n Khamosh’s advice is worth considering. I would like to know about the influences these anchors had. I would like to know if they are inspired by any book etc or what are their hobbies. I think one fourth of the interview should be dedicated to their personal life.

Good job Admin.

@lonelybird: u need a girlfriend bro. Read my comment again. I suggested the admin ask some questions specifically from the audience (not that it should only be 5 questions) of this site and suggested an arbitrary number of 5.. can be less or more, I don’t care. To make the process democratic I suggested the poll.

You shouldn’t have skipped on your English Comprehension classes Canada is famous for giving to it’s refugee immigrants.

cheers!

very proud of Asma’s achievements. But just clarification- during the first gulf war a pakistani woman was a war correspondent inside Iraq, I believe she reported for AP or AFP. So this was back in the early 1990s.

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

Please advise your visiters to dont write you GM instead of Ghulam Mustafa, because you have so nice name it should not ever written in short form. Any way, this was a really excellent interview and come to know about Mohtarma Asma Sherazi Sahiba.

I personally feel, during the interview that she is suffering deep pressure and stress by the present illegal government and she is looking forward for the change after the coming general elections next week.

Ghulam Mustafa Sahib, please try to have individual interviews with Dr. Shahid Masood, Hamid Mir, Kashif Abbasi, Nusrat Javed and Mushtaq Minhas.

congratulations, nice effort!! admin, you must have asked her some personal questions too. for example, are you married? what does your husband do? how many kids you have? etc.

please keep it up.

keep it up admin and we really apperciate asma sherazi for her struggle in jounalism

Asma if you are reading this, i would just like to say that we are very proud of you. you are very dignified and a strong woman. may Allah bless you and give you more success.

at awais
wariristan? you must be a savage supporter of musharaf kirai ka fauji.

@ admin
don’t you think i too have a right to response. if thats not the case then let me know your pemra selections.

@ taban khamoosh
aray lonely bird tabann khamoosh say zraa bachh kay rehna, peechay parr gyaa too jaan nahin chooray ga.
by the way taban khamoosh , tum khamoosh he rahoo to behtarr hay, insaan apnee zubaan kay neechay chupha hota hay.
ur 5 question suggestion makes me laughh a lot.
lonelybird i m sure english is not ur mother tongue because ur parents are pakistanis and if anyone else ………………………………………….
khair samjhnay walay samjhh gaye.
asma u r welcome to canada anytime, lonelybird ke batoon ka ghussa na kerna ye her kise ke sifarish kerta rehta hay.

Waiting for Dr. Shahid’s interview. Hey admin sir hope ur fine. We are waiting for Dr. Shahid’s onterview.

@ Awais.

With reference to your comments, on 16th at 5.43 am, above; I wish to ADVICE
you, a young man, (which you seem to be ) & would also REQUEST, that please,
in FUTURE, AVOID calling a muslim prayer leader, by the name ‘mullah,’ which
is normally used in a degrading manner, by non-muslims, or by Pakistani ‘ Kala
Goras’ against ‘ maulanas, maulvis & khateebs’ which is advised, should instead be used.

Secondly, please allow me to remind you, to please look up the dictionary given on a computer before you fwd your comments because a wrong usage gives a different meaning than you intend e.g. you have used the word “barbaric” treatment by mullahs - please let it be known that the dictionary meaning of barbarism or barbarity is uncivilized or wild behavior and of lack of restraint

therefore how could a mullah be barbaric in the first place

lastly i request you not to be vicious/cruel in your comments as given by you above

Very nice interview. Asma represents the very rare breed of Pakistani women who are real professionals; beyond gender, beyond display of their ” feminine charms” , dedicated, professional and to the point. Any working woman who is in a profession which is predominantly male and who is averse to being regarded as a woman before being regarded as a professional or human being can relate to her.

Ms. Asma Shirazi, you’re amongst the very best. Just hang on in there!

BTW, I didn’t know Mr. Ghulam Mustafa was our respected admin. Great to make your acquaintance Sir!

Weren’t you the one I saw in a London protest video saying quite convincingly that Pakistan’s main problem was rabid dog bites … LoL!!!

I disagree with the part where Asma S says that she is probably the only south asian female journalist to cover a war zone. Barkha dutt from NDTV reported from Kargil. Also, I really admire her for her courage and I feel proud of her achievements, I wish she hadnt done so much self praising in her interview. One can phrase their achievements without coming across as self obsessed. It is disappointing to see lack of humility here.

Dear all Thinkers, may be you all have more argu please give her time to understan the herself speaking manner and appershiate her struggele.may be you all are right.

@ SnrCtzn
I think Awais didn’t use the term ‘barbaric mullas’ for all ‘Maula Hazraat’. It was used in relation to Politician cum Maulanas of Lal Masjid and Waziristan. Ok if you think whatever they did, wasn’t barbaric, so was that civilized? What kind of definition of islam they are giving to our generation? being a religious leader they should prove theirselves more tolorent and civilized than anybody else. I do respect for all Maulanas but not for someone who believes to enforce islam by force. Islam has widest and brightest aspects about humanity but please don’t restrict islam only constraining on women and burning cd’s shops, etc.

Thanks pk politics for arranging an interview with asma sherazi