Tarek Fatah

Tarek Fatah was a Pakistani-Canadian journalist and author who became a vocal critic of the political establishment in Pakistan. Born into a Punjabi family, he frequently commented on the partition of India and religious fundamentalism. He maintained various roles in media and politics throughout his life.

Early life and education

Fatah was born on 20 November 1949 in Karachi, Pakistan. His Punjabi family had migrated from Bombay to Karachi following the Partition of India in 1947. He attended the University of Karachi where he earned a degree in biochemistry. During the 1960s and 1970s, he served as a leftist student leader.

His political activism led to significant personal hardship. He was imprisoned twice by military regimes during his youth. In 1977, the Zia-ul Haq regime charged him with sedition and barred him from practicing journalism.

Career

Fatah entered the media industry in 1970 as a reporter for the Karachi Sun. He later worked as an investigative journalist for Pakistan Television. After moving to Canada in 1987, he transitioned into Canadian media and politics. He hosted the weekly current affairs show Muslim Chronicle on CTS and VisionTV from 1996 until 2006.

His broadcasting career continued through several different platforms. From 2009 to 2015, he worked as a broadcaster for the Toronto radio station CFRB Newstalk 1010. He co-hosted Friendly Fire with Ryan Doyle between 2009 and 2011. He also hosted The Tarek Fatah Show on Sunday afternoons from 2011 to 2015.

Fatah was also an active political figure in Ontario. He ran as the Ontario New Democratic Party candidate for Scarborough North during the 1995 provincial elections, though he was unsuccessful. He later worked for Howard Hampton, who served as the leader of the Ontario NDP. In July 2006, he left the party to support the candidacy of Bob Rae for the Liberal Party of Canada leadership.

His political commentary often addressed religious influence in governance. He argued in a Globe and Mail editorial that certain leaders engaged in efforts to wield political muscle through racial and religious exploitation. In 2008, he criticized the federal NDP, claiming the party had opened its doors to Islamists under the leadership of Alexa McDonough and Jack Layton. He also expressed support for Conservative leader Stephen Harper during the 2015 federal elections.

As a writer, Fatah maintained a consistent presence in print media. He wrote a regular column for the Toronto Sun from 2012 to 2023. He was also a frequent commentator on the Sun News Network. From 2018 to 2023, he hosted the YouTube talk show "What The Fatah" via the New Delhi Times channel.

Personal life

Fatah lived in Saudi Arabia after leaving Pakistan but before his emigration to Canada. He eventually renounced his Pakistani citizenship, citing government discrimination against the Ahmadiyya community as a reason. He described himself as an immigrant in Canada with a Muslim consciousness and a Marxist youth.

His views on international relations were often controversial. He supported Israel's right to exist while simultaneously calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. In 2013, he claimed responsibility for blocking the Toronto Sun website in Pakistan. He also expressed support for both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders during the 2016 United States presidential race.