Absar Alam Explained

Absar Alam
Birth Name:	Absar Alam
Birth Place:	Faisalabad
Occupation:	Journalist / Senior Analyst
Module:	Embed: yes Term Start: 1 December 2015 Term End: 18 December 2017 Predecessor: Kamaluddin Tipu (acting)

Absar Alam is a Pakistani senior journalist. He also served as the 5th Chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).^{[1] [2] [3]}

He was appointed chairman of PEMRA in October 2015, and served until his removal by the courts in December 2017.^{[4] [5] [6]}

On 20 April 2021, Absar Alam was shot while walking in a park near his home allegedly by someone who did not like him criticizing the Pakistani military. He was hospitalized to treat his injuries and successfully recovered from his injuries.^{[1] [3] [2]}

In August 2024, an audio leak emerged, retired General Faiz Hameed can be heard threatening Absar Alam indirectly to coerce him into issuing licenses to media channels.^[7]

Notes and References

1. News: Absar Alam booked for inciting against Army, plea for trial under article 6 (using translated title version here from Urdu to English). BBC News website. 11 September 2020. 10 November 2021.
2. News: Senior journalist Absar Alam shot, injured in Islamabad. Dawn (newspaper). 20 April 2021. 10 November 2021.
3. News: Pakistani Journalist Is Shot After Criticizing the Military. The New York Times. Salman Masood. 20 April 2021. 10 November 2021.
4. https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/absar-alam-appointed-as-pemra-chairman/ Absar Alam appointed as PEMRA chairman
5. http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153785 Absar Alam:The watchman
6. News: Absar Alam steps down as Pemra chairman after LHC declares his appointment illegal. Idrees Sheikh and Javed Hussain. Dawn (newspaper). 18 December 2017. 11 November 2021.
7. News: Editorial . Aug 15, 2024 . Faiz Hameed's leaked calls: Ex-ISI chief's threats to Absar Alam exposed . live . Samaa News.