ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani newspaper has reported that an eight-month internal investigation uncovered what it described as an alleged attempt by a foreign-linked network to recruit one of its journalists to publish externally prepared political articles and obtain unpublished information in exchange for long-term financial rewards.
According to The News Investigation Cell, the operation targeted investigative journalist Fakhar Durrani between November 2025 and July 2026. The newspaper said it documented the alleged recruitment effort through WhatsApp and Facebook conversations, recorded phone calls, financial transaction records and drafts of articles.
The publication said it informed relevant Pakistani authorities because of what it described as the operation’s potential national security implications.
According to the investigation, the first contact was made through Facebook in November 2025 by a woman who identified herself as a representative of a Dubai-based public relations company. Initially, she sought information about Durrani’s professional background and media contacts before revealing that her clients wanted opinion articles published in Pakistani newspapers.
The newspaper said the operative offered publication-ready articles covering Pakistan’s military leadership, the government’s economic policies, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistan-China relations, Afghanistan and Balochistan.
According to the report, the journalist declined the proposal. However, the woman allegedly continued pursuing the arrangement and offered increasing payments for publishing the material. She also sought information about Pakistan’s media landscape, including how opinion articles are approved and amplified through social media platforms.
The investigation said the operative initially offered Rs70,000 for publishing the first article, including an advance payment. It alleged that she repeatedly insisted the payment be received through cryptocurrency before funds were eventually transferred through a digital wallet. The report said additional payments later brought the total amount received during the investigation to Rs103,000.
According to the newspaper, the network later supplied three opinion articles that criticised Pakistan’s military leadership, the government’s economic narrative and the SIFC. One article was allegedly revised on the operative’s instructions to specifically name Pakistan’s army chief and Punjab’s chief minister.
The report said the articles were not accompanied by supporting evidence. When asked to substantiate their claims, the operative allegedly provided social media posts and tweets by Pakistan-critical activists based abroad.
The investigation further alleged that the network expanded its requests beyond publishing articles. According to the report, the operative asked whether the journalist could obtain information that had not entered the public domain, particularly following developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. She also inquired about contacts within government departments and other institutions, offering separate payments for such assignments.
The newspaper said the journalist neither provided unpublished information nor agreed to obtain it. It said the engagement continued solely to document the alleged recruitment methodology and preserve evidence.
During the final stage of the operation, the investigation said the journalist questioned the operative about possible links to a foreign intelligence agency. According to the report, she responded by discussing relocation abroad and employment opportunities if the operation were exposed.
The following day, the newspaper said, a man identifying himself as the woman’s superior contacted the journalist. According to the report, he agreed to increase payments to Rs170,000 per article and discussed arrangements for visas and relocation for the journalist and his family if necessary.
The caller also claimed he had played “a small role” in the Pegasus spyware episode, although The News said it could not independently verify that assertion.
The newspaper said its investigation could not independently establish who financed the operation, who authored the articles, or who directed the network. It also said it was unable to verify the organisational affiliation of those involved.
However, the report said it documented repeated offers of money, attempts to secure publication of externally prepared political content, requests for unpublished information and discussions about relocating the journalist abroad if the operation became public.
