ISLAMABAD – US President Donald Trump is not visiting Pakistan in August, as one of leading mainstream channels retracted from a viral report, which sparked a new debate about Islamabad-Washington ties.
Geo News analyst Azaz Syed issued formal apologies after airing an unverified report regarding a purported visit by US President Donald Trump to Pakistan. The report, which turned out to be baseless, sparked widespread discussion before being retracted.
It all started when Geo News aired a breaking news segment claiming that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan soon. However, official sources later clarified that no such visit was scheduled. Trump is reportedly set to visit the United Kingdom on September 18, and Pakistan’s Foreign Office denied any knowledge of a planned trip to Islamabad.
After clarification, the new channel aired clarification with tickers quoting the Foreign Office spokesperson, and issued a public apology.
Journalist Azaz Syed, who initially reported the claim, also took to social media to express regret. In a heartfelt statement, he wrote: “Today, I feel deeply embarrassed to admit that I reported an incorrect date regarding U.S. President Donald Trump. The information I shared was premature and not yet confirmed. I take full responsibility and extend my sincere apologies to my followers and my organization, Geo News, which has always placed its trust in me.”
Today, I feel deeply embarrassed to admit that I misreported the date related to U.S. President Donald Trump — the information I shared was premature and not yet final. I take full responsibility for this oversight and offer my sincerest apologies to all my followers, including…
— Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) July 17, 2025
He further reaffirmed his commitment to journalistic integrity, stating, “I remain dedicated to accuracy, honesty, and transparency in my reporting. I truly regret this mistake.”
The incident also sheds light on media responsibility and importance of verifying information before publication, especially when it involves sensitive diplomatic matters.
