‘Deceived and used’: US journalist slams Islamabad meet that turned into anti-govt event

Caitlin Doornbos of the Recent York Post mentioned she had joined the gathering to better stamp Pakistan’s media panorama, however didn’t predict her participation to be linked to political messaging well-known of the host country

A US journalist has mentioned she felt “deceived and aged” after attending what was billed as an casual meet-and-greet for foreign correspondents in Islamabad however allegedly changed into into a authorities-bashing event.

Caitlin Doornbos of the Recent York Post mentioned she had joined the gathering — organised by a community of Pakistani journalists for foreign correspondents at the Islamabad Press Membership — to better stamp Pakistan’s media panorama, however didn’t predict her participation to be linked to political messaging well-known of the host country.

Besides Doornbos, the even was additionally attended by Osama Javed from Al Jazeera, and Sophia Saifi of CNN, all of whom had been in Pakistan to quilt anticipated US-Iran peace talks.

For the period of the event, two Pakistani journalists, Matiullah Jan and Asad Ali Toor, reportedly aged the platform to criticise the Asim Munir-led military institution’s insurance policies. They raised concerns over press freedom, alleged harassment of journalists, and insurance policies of the authorities led by Shehbaz Sharif, alongside with disorders equivalent to additional-judicial actions and the broader media atmosphere.

Doornbos posted on X questioning whether foreign journalists had consented to their photos being aged in a political context.

“Did someone request the foreign journalists whose photos are really linked to this how they felt about it?” she wrote.

Did someone request the foreign journalists whose photos are really linked to this how they felt about it?

Personally, I feel deceived and aged. I would possess enjoyed studying extra about the media panorama privately, however our photos had been blasted out in affiliation with a political… https://t.co/lYZiI7TJ3L

— Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) April 27, 2026

“I feel deceived and aged. I would possess enjoyed studying extra about the media panorama privately, however our photos had been blasted out in affiliation with a political observation implying our team spirit in criticising a foreign authorities in which we’re web declare online visitors,” she added.

Her remarks followed the circulation of community photos from the event alongside captions suggesting that foreign journalists endorsed criticism of the Pakistani authorities. The usage of the click club’s logo additional added to the perception that it was an official event.

Some reviews additionally claimed that attendees had been given commemorative items, contributing to the backlash on-line.

Pakistani journalist Maryam Nawaz Khan later mentioned ideal a exiguous a part of the gathering eager discussion on the “genuine face” of just journalism in Pakistan.

“Quite a few fuss on global journalists event within the National Press Membership is going on… If this would had been hosted by any of the system’s self-claimed spokesperson, the case would had been diversified,” Maryam tweeted.

She additionally flagged how dozens of Pakistani journalists had been forcibly “picked up” by insist agencies for allegedly spreading “anti-Pakistan” narratives. “Dissent has been criminalised, be it journalists, academics, activists, or attorneys,” Maryam additional mentioned.

Pak journalist resigns after row

Within a day of the event, Matiullah Jan equipped his resignation from Neo News, even though no official reason was cited.

“My hobble with the Neo News TV has with out be aware advance to an end… Right here’s now not the main time or the main authorities for the period of which I wish to face this kind of deliver,” Jan, who is famous for his investigative reporting and outspoken criticism of the authorities, posted on X.

Toor urged exterior stress might per chance perchance well additionally possess performed a role, while several journalists voiced strengthen for Jan, calling him a outstanding just grunt.

While some native journalists defended the event as a candid discussion on the realities of journalism, others mentioned the episode reflects deeper divisions within Pakistan’s media panorama.

With inputs from agencies