News Broadcasting
Pakistan upset over News9 Plus expose on human rights violation in Balochistan
Mumbai: Reportedly the Pakistani government has taken to Twitter to express its displeasure with a News9 Plus expose on human rights violations in Balochistan.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) objected to the December 25, 2022, docu series, claiming that the story ‘Balochistan: Bangladesh 2.0’ violated Pakistani laws.
On February 5, Twitter contacted News9 Plus executive editor Aditya Raj Kaul, about the story. Kaul is the director of the docu series, for which a News9 Plus unit traversed Balochistan, overcoming obstacles posed by the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps.
The two part series examines the rise in alleged state-sponsored Baloch killings. Strategic experts and geopolitical observers have dubbed the troubled province a “Second Bangladesh,” a reference to East Pakistan, which declared independence in 1971.
The increase in violence is also attributed to Baloch rebels resentment of China’s investment plans in the province. Beijing is increasing its investments in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which runs through the province. As Balochistan’s resentment grows over the Chinese’s rejection of locals, violent attacks on Chinese nationals have increased in recent years.
Kaul said, “We have been investigating the human rights abuse and persecution of the Baloch people by the Pakistan Army and the ISI. While reporting the story, we spoke to activists, journalists and common people across the province collecting primary evidence of the gruesome torture and its conversion into a virtual Chinese colony. Pakistan’s objection to our Balochistan series is an attack on freedom of expression and only vindicates the questions that we have raised.”
Twitter has rejected the Pakistan government’s request to censor the News9 Plus story and upheld the right of journalists to express themselves freely on social media.
In October 2022, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) formed a team to track down and apprehend social media voices and journalists, including Aditya Raj Kaul for News9 Plus’s ‘Intercontinental Terrorist’ story on Mumbai 26/11 attacks mastermind and ISI asset Sajid Mir. Pakistan’s efforts to silence international media only demonstrate Islamabad’s desperation to conceal facts and keep Balochistan out of the spotlight.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
