October 1, 2025
By Kaleem Ullah
LAHORE
For Razia Mehsud, working as a journalist in the conflict ridden, socially conservative region of South Waziristan, is a challenge in itself – more so because she is the only working female journalist in this area, who highlights women’s issues and faces immense resistance from the deeply conservative tribal society. Here, women remain largely confined to their homes and lack access even to basic rights such as education, and so work for a woman journalist is dangerous and risky.
Challenge for journalists’
Journalists in Pakistan’s tribal districts in general face extremely difficult working conditions. On the one hand, they are pressured by state institutions, and on the other, they face threats from militants. A stark reminder of these dangers is the recent killing of digital journalist Kamran Dawar in North Waziristan and journalist Khalil Jibran in Khyber district, whose families still await justice.
For women journalists, these challenges are even more daunting. In addition to threats from militants and the military, they often face obstacles created by local religious and tribal elders in the name of religion and tradition.
Facing criticism
Recently when Razia raised her voice in a Facebook post, against the absence of women’s representation in local jirgahs, she faced strong criticism from Maulana Abdul Rashid, a local leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F). He responded to her call for female representation in a video message.
“If she wants to work for women, then its not necessary that she does journalism, and mingle with men,” he said. “She should instead open a vocational center, hospital, or educational institute for women so that they can acquire skills and education, and their health needs can also be taken care of. Islam is not against women’s education and skills, but women like Razia Mehsud participating in jirgahs, or appearing on stage in public, is against our traditions and religion. We consider women’s participation in jirgahs an insult to our traditions, and we will never allow it.”
Razia considers this mindset a major obstacle for women journalists and for women entering other fields in the region.
“Although many ordinary people and scholars appreciate my reporting, certain local leaders of JUI-F frequently criticize me,” she said while speaking to Voicepk. “I ask them, when they have taken an oath of loyalty to the Constitution of the country, have their own women’s wings in the party, and even include women’s representation in their manifesto, then why do they object to my work and the participation of women in different fields in Waziristan and the tribal areas? In a region where aware and independent women are already scarce, such statements only create more barriers in their path.”
Commenting on the matter, Qazi Tahir Mehsud, an Islamic scholar and social activist from South Waziristan, said, “Islam does require women to observe modesty, but Razia Mehsud, already works alongside her husband while observing purdah. The history of Islam is filled with examples of Muslim women participating in various fields. Such statements by clerics only alienate them from the public and can create hurdles in the way of the prosperity of this area.”
Voicepk reached out to JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri for clarification on the matter, but no response had been received by the time this report was filed.
Expressing regret over the incident, Gohar Mehsud, who belongs to South Wazirisan and is the General Secretary of the Pukhtun Journalists’ Association (Islamabad), said, “Women have always played a role in the social, political, and cultural life of tribal society. One of the main reasons why women do not join journalism in tribal areas is precisely this attitude, which suppresses their voices and prevents new women from entering the field.”
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Pakistan currently ranks 158 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index—an indication of the grave challenges journalists face in the country.