Ahmad Noorani
{{Short description|Pakistani investigative journalist}}
{{Infobox journalist
| name = Ahmad Noorani
| image =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1981}}
| birth_place = Pakistan
| occupation = Investigative journalist
| years_active = 2007–present
| known_for = Founding Fact Focus
| notable_works = Report on assets of Lt. General Asim Bajwa's family, releasing an audio clip attributed to former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar
| organization = Fact Focus
| spouse =
| awards =
| website =
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}}
Ahmad Noorani ({{langx|ur|احمد نورانی}}; born 1981) is a Pakistani-born investigative journalist based in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/13079-pakistani-journalist-faces-death-threats-after-exposing-general-s-wealth|title=Pakistani Journalist Faces Death Threats After Exposing General’s Wealth|website=www.occrp.org}} He is the co-founder of Fact Focus.{{Cite web|url=https://presspartners.org/ahmad-noorani/|title = Alfred Friendly Press Partners}}{{Cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2020/09/pakistani-journalists-receive-death-threats-after-reporting-called-fake-news-in-tv-program/|title = Pakistani journalists receive death threats after reporting called 'fake news' in TV program|date = September 2020}} He formerly worked at The News International in Islamabad from 2007 to 2019, where he reported on issues such as alleged tax evasion by the family of Imran Khan, government corruption, real estate scandals, and other sensitive topics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjr.org/the_profile/ahmad-noorani-exile-pakistan.php|title=Ambivalence in Exile |first=Mercy Tonnia |last=Orengo |date=April 17, 2023 |website=Columbia Journalism Review}}{{Cite web|url=https://presspartners.org/ahmad-noorani/ |title=At-risk journalist determined to resume watchdog reporting in Pakistan}}
Early life and education
Noorani was born in 1981 in Pakistan. He attended Columbia University, where he graduated with a master's degree in business journalism in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://journalism.columbia.edu/news/cjs-global-election-reporting |title=CJS Election Reporting Around The Globe|date=November 14, 2024}}
Career
Noorani began his career at The News International in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independenturdu.com/node/45761|title=اندازہ تھا کہ اس رپورٹ پر شدید ردِ عمل آئے گا: احمد نورانی|date=28 August 2020}} Noorani has faced threats and harassment during his work, including physical assaults by unidentified individuals demanding that he halt coverage of the military.
In October 2017, Noorani was attacked near the Zero Point in Islamabad, armed men on motorcycles forcibly stopped his vehicle and then pulled him out of the vehicle and tortured him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/164717-journalist-ahmad-noorani-assaulted-in-islamabad|title = Journalist Ahmad Noorani attacked in Islamabad}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/outspoken-pakistani-journalist-ahmad-noorani-attacked-1768070|title=Outspoken Pakistani Journalist Ahmad Noorani Attacked|website=NDTV.com}} Noorani was hospitalized after losing consciousness from the attack.
Following ongoing threats, including a threatening call from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and public condemnation by the government, Noorani was dismissed from his position at The News International.
=Fact Focus=
After relocating abroad, Noorani founded Fact Focus in 2020, an online platform for data-driven investigative journalism. Operating from exile, Noorani manages a small team of seven contributors, primarily consisting of journalists remaining in Pakistan who also face challenges from authorities. Fact Focus is funded through subscriptions, donations, and volunteer contributions from its members. The platform has published investigations on topics such as military-run businesses, retirement plans of military officials, and the financial disclosures of politicians.
In August 2020, Noorani issued a report on the assets of Asim Bajwa's family.{{Cite web|url=https://factfocus.com/politics/1756/|title=Bajwa family business empire grew in four countries in sync with Asim Bajwa's rise in military|date=August 27, 2020 |website=Fact Focus}}
In November 2021, Noorani uploaded an audio clip attributed to a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Saqib Nisar, in which he was talking with other unknown people about putting pressure on the sentences of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/910944-saqib-nisar-s-audio-file-us-firm-confident-of-tape-s-integrity|title=Saqib Nisar's audio file: 'US firm confident of tape's integrity'|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}{{Cite web|url=https://factfocus.com/politics/2211/|title=Saqib Nisar CJ ordered Nawaz jailed as “institutions” wanted Imran in power|date=November 21, 2021|website=Fact Focus}}
Personal life
Noorani is married to Umbreen Fatima. In November 2021, his wife's car was attacked by an unidentified assailant who escaped near her home in Lahore, threatening to kill her.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1660212|title=Wife of journalist Ahmad Noorani attacked in Lahore|date=25 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2331072/journalist-ahmad-nooranis-wife-attacked-in-lahore|title=Journalist Ahmad Noorani’s wife attacked in Lahore|date=November 25, 2021|website=The Express Tribune}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://factfocus.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Noorani, Ahmad}}
Category:Pakistani male journalists
Category:Pakistani investigative journalists
Category:Pakistani reporters and correspondents
Category:21st-century Pakistani writers