ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and his close associates have formulated a two-pronged strategy to use the media against the judiciary and to use sections of the media against the critical media, just to divert public attention from corruption scandals. This dangerous strategy is being run by elements close to Zardari. These elements have started raising a hue and cry in the name of unbalanced reporting and about one-sided talk shows but they have not informed PM Gilani about their anti-media plans despite the fact that Gilani is a major stakeholder in the system. Two media groups have started their “sponsored” campaigns not only against the judiciary but also against all the journalists who are not ready to become part of anti-judiciary campaign. The owners of these two media houses are in contact with Zardari who asked government departments to shower advertisements on these anti-judiciary media groups. The thinking process of Zardari is no more a secret. Every enemy of the independent judiciary is his friend and every supporter of the judiciary is his enemy. Interestingly, some PPP leaders leveled baseless allegations against many journalists of Jang Group and even declared some of them as “Indian agents” but the same PPP is supporting and promoting some elements in the media who are famous for their Track-2 diplomacy with India. Three years ago, former dictator Musharraf was patronizing these friends of India in Pakistani media. Now President Zardari is also supporting these elements but his critics are openly being accused of being Indian agents. REFERENCE: Plan to use media against media and judges by Hamid Mir Sunday, November 07, 2010 11/7/2010 Zi Qad 29, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/07-11-2010/Top-Story/1890.htm
IS THIS A CONSPIRACY AGAINST JANG GROUP OF NEWSPAPERS.
Friendly journalists - Mr Zardari's supporters believe that cancelling the trip would not have helped him. "He would have been remembered and criticised even if there were no floods in the country," said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday. And indeed, the current anti-Zardari campaign in the media started before the floods hit the headlines. The criticism began after British Prime Minister David Cameron made remarks in India on 28 July where he accused some in Pakistan of "looking both ways", exporting terror to neighbouring countries. On 31 July, Pakistan's Geo TV reported that the chief of the ISI intelligence service, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, had cancelled a scheduled trip to the UK because of Mr Cameron's remarks, but Mr Zardari was continuing with his planned trip. Pakistan's ubiquitous TV news presenters began questioning President Zardari's patriotism and personal integrity. The print media was not far behind. While President Zardari's European tour had been "reduced to a pleasure trip" after Mr Cameron's remarks, "the army reacted in a timely and dignified manner" by cancelling the ISI chief's UK visit, an editorial comment in the Pakistan Observer newspaper said. The News newspaper called Mr Zardari's visit a "pursuit of his own dynastic aggrandizement". The floods only intensified this initial criticism. Two significant developments took place on Thursday. Firstly, Bilawal Bhutto denied he was planning to address the Pakistan Peoples' Party rally in Birmingham, one of the main reasons for Mr Zardari's trip. Secondly, Prime Minister Gilani informed journalists that the ISI chief had not, in fact, scheduled a visit to the UK in the first place. Many quarters insist Bilawal Bhutto's "cancellation" of an appearance at the Birmingham show may be the result of a rethink on the part of Mr Zardari's advisers to minimise political damage. But what about the confusion over the story about the ISI chief's visit to the UK? The initial report on Geo TV had come from mysterious, unnamed sources. And even more mysteriously, the army's media wing - which normally keeps a hawkish eye on the news, correcting reports at the first possible stage - had not stepped in to clarify the report. The ties between the military and the media are strong. The military often use the media to protect its hold on the giant corporate empire which it has built. In the 1980s the military did this through open censorship. Since the 1990s it has evolved subtler ways. It controls almost all access to big stories, and has therefore been able to raise a corps of "friendly" journalists who now control most key jobs in Pakistani media due to their "contacts". President Zardari's supporters suggest the media could have made up the story of the ISI cancelling its trip to the UK in order to spark an anti-Zardari campaign, which intensified as the scale of the flood damage became clear. REFERENCE: Criticism of Zardari in Pakistan hides a political game By M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Islamabad 7 August 2010 Last updated at 15:10 GMT http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10901583
Would Mr. Shaheen Sehbai, Mr. Hamid Mir and last but not the least like to explain as to who did this?
Umar Cheema, 34, a reporter for The News, was kidnapped and beaten on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sept. 4 after having written several articles that were critical of the Pakistani Army. 
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — An investigative reporter for a major Pakistani newspaper was on his way home from dinner here on a recent night when men in black commando garb stopped his car, blindfolded him and drove him to a house on the outskirts of town. There, he says, he was beaten and stripped naked. His head and eyebrows were shaved, and he was videotaped in humiliating positions by assailants who he and other journalists believe were affiliated with the country’s powerful spy agency. At one point, while he lay face down on the floor with his hands cuffed behind him, his captors made clear why he had been singled out for punishment: for writing against the government. “If you can’t avoid rape,” one taunted him, “enjoy it.” The reporter, Umar Cheema, 34, had written several articles for The News that were critical of the Pakistani Army in the months preceding the attack. His ordeal was not uncommon for a journalist or politician who crossed the interests of the military and intelligence agencies, the centers of power even in the current era of civilian government, reporters and politicians said. “I have suspicions and every journalist has suspicions that all fingers point to the ISI,” Mr. Cheema said, using the acronym for the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, the institution that the C.I.A. works with closely in Pakistan to hunt militants. The ISI is an integral part of the Pakistani Army; its head, Gen. Shuja Ahmed Pasha, reports to the army chief of staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — An investigative reporter for a major Pakistani newspaper was on his way home from dinner here on a recent night when men in black commando garb stopped his car, blindfolded him and drove him to a house on the outskirts of town. There, he says, he was beaten and stripped naked. His head and eyebrows were shaved, and he was videotaped in humiliating positions by assailants who he and other journalists believe were affiliated with the country’s powerful spy agency. At one point, while he lay face down on the floor with his hands cuffed behind him, his captors made clear why he had been singled out for punishment: for writing against the government. “If you can’t avoid rape,” one taunted him, “enjoy it.” The reporter, Umar Cheema, 34, had written several articles for The News that were critical of the Pakistani Army in the months preceding the attack. His ordeal was not uncommon for a journalist or politician who crossed the interests of the military and intelligence agencies, the centers of power even in the current era of civilian government, reporters and politicians said. “I have suspicions and every journalist has suspicions that all fingers point to the ISI,” Mr. Cheema said, using the acronym for the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, the institution that the C.I.A. works with closely in Pakistan to hunt militants. The ISI is an integral part of the Pakistani Army; its head, Gen. Shuja Ahmed Pasha, reports to the army chief of staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Officials at the American Embassy said they interviewed Mr. Cheema this week, and sent a report of his account to the State Department. In response to an e-mail for comment, a spokesman for the ISI said, “They are nothing but allegations with no substance or truth.” Mr. Cheema had won a Daniel Pearl Journalism Fellowship to train foreign journalists in 2008 and worked in The New York Times newsroom for six months at that time. He has worked at The News since 2007. The attack was believed at the time to be unpopular in the army ranks because many soldiers were reluctant to fire on fellow Muslims. Moreover, courts-martial are rarely mentioned in the Pakistani news media, and reporters have been warned not to write about them. In his article, Mr. Cheema reported that two members of the Special Services Group, an elite commando squad, were being denied fair justice during the court-martial proceedings. In another article, Mr. Cheema wrote that the suspects in a major terrorist attack against a bus carrying ISI employees were acquitted because of the “mishandling” of the court case by the intelligence agency. In an article in early August, the reporter described how Army House, the residence of the chief of army staff, was protected by 400 city police officers and not by soldiers, as required by law. In January, in Islamabad, the home of Azaz Syed, a reporter for Dawn, the main English-language daily, was attacked by unknown assailants days after he was threatened by supposed ISI agents over an investigative article he was researching related to the military.
Kamran Shafi, a leading columnist and himself a former army officer who writes critically of the military, was harassed and his house was attacked last December by “elements linked to the security establishment,” according to his own account. In the last several years, journalists in the tribal areas, where the army is fighting the Taliban, have faced special risks and found it increasingly difficult to work for fear of offending either side. In September two journalists were killed in or near the tribal areas, under circumstances that remain unclear. Pakistan has developed a rambunctious news media spearheaded by round the clock television news channels in the last decade. The military and the ISI are treated with respect by the powerful television anchors, and by newspaper reporters who extol the deeds of the army in battling the Taliban. The ISI is rarely mentioned by name but referred to as “intelligence agencies.” One reason for the deference, according to a Pakistani intelligence official who has worked with the media cell of the ISI, is that the agency keeps many journalists on its payroll. Unspoken rules about covering the military and its intelligence branches are eagerly enforced, Babar Sattar, a Harvard-trained lawyer, said. A journalist who trespasses over the line is told to behave, Mr. Sattar said. Earlier this year, Mr. Cheema said he was called to a coffee shop in Islamabad by an ISI officer and warned to fall into line. At a journalists’ seminar in Lahore, the editor of a weekly newspaper, Najam Sethi, said it was up to the ISI to declare who had attacked Mr. Cheema. “If the ISI hasn’t done it, they should tell us who did it because they’re supposed to know,” Mr. Sethi said. “If they don’t tell, the presumption remains they did it.” But in a column titled “Surprise Surprise” in Dawn, Mr. Shafi said, “We will never find out what happened to poor Umar Cheema because the Deep State does not want us to find out.” REFERENCES: EDITORIAL Who Attacked Umar Cheema? A version of this editorial appeared in print on September 29, 2010, on page A30 of the New York edition. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/opinion/29wed4.htmlPublished: September 28, 2010 After Pakistani Journalist Speaks Out About an Attack, Eyes Turn to the Military By JANE PERLEZ Published: September 24, 2010 A version of this article appeared in print on September 25, 2010, on page A7 of the New York edition.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/25/world/asia/25cheema.html?_r=4&ref=nfhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/25/world/asia/25cheema.html
IS THIS A CONSPIRACY AGAINST JANG GROUP OF NEWSPAPERS.
Safma took serious exception to the conspiracies and sinister moves to bring undemocratic and unconstitutional changes and overstepping of various institutions of the state, including a section of sensational media, going beyond their legitimate sphere, professional and ethical limits. It also express dismayed at deteriorating quality of the governance at various tiers of governance and across all institutions of the state and worried about a lack of inconsistency in eradicating terrorism and appalled by the insistence on keeping sanctuaries of terrorism as so-called “strategic assets” and not strictly stopping terrorists outfits from operating in various disguised forms. Disturbed over the alienation, deprivation and sufferings of the Baloch people, perturbed over continuing inflation and hardships being faced by the common man, especially the people affected by the floods and terrorism, Safma is disappointed over not changing the media laws, especially the Information Law, Pemra Law and Press Council Law and condemn killing, torture and victimization of working journalists by various state and non-state actors, non-implementation of Seventh Wage Board Award, retrenchment of media persons and a lack of protection and insurance coverage for journalists reporting from conflict zones.
Media persons reiterate full faith in constitutional, democratic and representative system that ensures freedom and fundamental rights, an independent judiciary, a free and responsible media and above all sovereignty of our people reflected through federal and provincial legislatures.
Safma emphasized the need for evolving a broadest national consensus among all stakeholders on major national issues, such as terrorism, economy (macro-economic policy, state corporations, taxation, non-development expenditure, energy, rehabilitation and reconstruction of flood and terrorism affected), foreign policy, national security and neighbors;
Crisis of Balochistan and transparent and accountable governance and across the board accountability; The media persons are of the considered view that future of the federation and our nation-state lies in democracy and continuation of constitutional, federal and democratic setup while submitting to the will of the people, which is represented by the elected legislatures and governments responsible to them.
The state must retain its writ across the land without in any way, allowing state or non-state actors to undermine it, nor must it allow any autonomous sanctuary undermining its sovereignty and international obligations.
All organs of the state and media must perform their functions in accordance with the letter and spirit of the 1973 Constitution, democratic norms and avoid transgressing their institutional limits while respecting the mandate of the people.
Both the state and society can face up to the challenges of natural calamities, terrorism, lawlessness, economic meltdown, poor-governance, human and physical security by reaching a national consensus on major policy issues. REFERENCE: Institutions including media overstepped: Safma Monday, November 08, 2010 Zilhajj 01, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/08-11-2010/National/14482.htm
Monday, November 08, 2010, Zilhajj 01, 1431 A.H
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2010-daily/08-11-2010/main.htm
IS IT A CONSPIRACY OF AAJ TV/Business Recorder, Express News/Express Tribune against the Jang Group of Newspapers?
AAJ TV, BUSINESS PLUS & EXPRESS NEWS VS JANG GROUP/GEO TV
 Cable operators criticise media houseRECORDER REPORT
KARACHI (October 31, 2010) : Cable operators on Saturday accused a leading media house of publishing "baseless allegations" through advertisements against them. "Geo and Jang newspaper of the same group are not only levelling baseless allegations against us [cable operators] but are also set to deprive us of our livelihoods," said Chairman Cable Operators of Pakistan, Khalid Araen at a press conference held at Karachi Press Club. Flanked by Central President of Cable Operators of Pakistan, Malik Furqan; Secretary General, Imran Nadeem; President Khyber Pukhtunkhuwa,Zubair Khalid; Secretary General, Cable Operators of Pakistan Punjab, Chaudhry Tahir Javed; President Cable Operators of Pakistan Azad Kashmir, Khurram Shahzad. President Cable Operators of Pakistan Balochistan, Babrak Khan; Information Secretary Cable Operators of Pakistan, Niaz Shaikh; Vice Chairman Cable Operators of Pakistan Sindh, Sadiq Lakhani; Deputy General Secretary Cable Operators of Pakistan Sindh, Muhammad Faisal; Executive Member Cable Operators of Pakistan, Akhlaq Ahmed. Vice President Cable Operators of Pakistan South Punjab, Jamil Ahmed; President Cable Operators of Pakistan Hyderabad Division, Muhammad Zahid and Secretary General Cable Operators of Pakistan Hyderabad Division, Muhammad Rashid, he said that media house was continuously "blackmailing" operators for its own goals against the national interest. Araen claimed the TV network had broadcast false news against President of Pakistan, triggering a strong public reaction, which resulted in attacks on cable operators' offices destroying million of rupees cable network. He also appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan to take a suo moto notice of the fresh tussle between the cable operators and Geo TV and that media house.
Jang Group blackmailing govt to evade taxes: cable operators Sunday, October 31, 2010 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\10\31\story_31-10-2010_pg1_4
* CAP chairman says group owes billions of rupees to govt
* Appeals to CJP to take notice of campaign against CAP Staff Report KARACHI: The Jang Group has been blackmailing the government to evade taxes, Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) Chairman Khalid Arian claimed on Saturday. Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Arian alleged that the group embezzled Rs 2 billion with the help of two officials of the National Bank of Pakistan. He alleged that the group also blackmailed the cable operators, but they remained silent, fearing that their concerns could be taken as part of political confrontation. Arain appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the daily Jang and the Geo Television’s levelling false allegations against the association. Recently, he said, the group provoked the people of the Karachi to refuse to pay monthly fee to the operators by publishing a controversial advertisement. Arain alleged that the Geo Television had put the lives of the army troops at risk when it showed their positions after terrorists attacked on the GHQ inRawalpindi. “It was Geo, which first claimed that Mumbai attack suspect Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani,” he said. He said the people reacted strongly against the CAP when the channel had telecast false news about President Asif Ali Zardari two months ago. He alleged the Geo Television had collected General Sales Tax but it did not deposit it to the national exchequer.
KARACHI: The Cable Operators Association of Pakistan has accused a major media group of resorting to “blackmail” and said it is “inciting consumers to deny cable TV operatorstheir monthly dues” and depriving them of their livelihood.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club here on Saturday, the association’s chairman, Khalid Arain, said: “Geo and Jang have routinely used freedom of expression as a ploy to get their valid and invalid demands”. He was accompanied by president of the COAP Malik Furqan, general secretary Imran Nadeem and Punjab chapter’s secretary Tahir Javed. Khalid Arian said that Geo network was not only leveling false allegations against cable operators, but also trying to deprive them of their livelihood. “We ask if television viewers are paying for just one channel? Are other news and entertainment channels of no value?”
Urging the government to take legal action against the group, he said that Geo and Jang have been at odds with not only Nawaz Sharif government, but also with the Musharraf regime and other previous governments over just financial matters affecting them. Arian said that the group owes Pemra billions of rupees in dues. He said that group stopped depositing GST from advertisers in the national exchequer and the authorities had come to know about it only in 2007 when the owed amount exceeded billions of rupees. He also claimed that the group took a loan of Rs1 billion from National Bank of Pakistan by over-valuing its machinery used as collateral. REFERENCE: Cable operators accuse Geo, Jang of ‘blackmail’ http://tribune.com.pk/story/70328/cable-operators-accuse-geo-jang-of-blackmail/
 Friends of President Zardari in the media have started a campaign against many journalists saying, “You people are trying to ridicule the elected representatives because you have a political agenda”. The same people are getting monetary benefits from PPP government due to their bias against judiciary which is very clear from their writings and views expressed on electronic media. The same people are openly trying to use the platform of media for friendship with India. Personally I have no objection to friendship with India but why they are not “Indian agents” for President Zardari? It is clear that PPP leadership will only consider those as “Indian agents” who are supporters of an independent judiciary. Many PPP leaders are openly speaking against the judiciary since long and they are trying to increase their allies in the media. It is learnt that two media cells have been established in Karachi and Islamabad under the supervision of some PPP office bearers. These cells have motivated some columnists recently to condemn “one sided and unbalanced journalism in support of some political judges”. These cells are trying to make an issue out of a recent controversy generated when a TV reporter claimed that the government has decided to cancel the notification through which judges were restored last year. PPP leaders are trying to use the media against the media using the notification story. This big ‘no’ from CPNE President has disappointed many PPP leaders who were waiting to start a new campaign against the media after the completion of work by the Hameed Haroon Committee. A former president of APNS told The News that Hameed Haroon is not heading an APNS committee, in fact he is heading a government committee and he was not responsible for ignoring the CPNE. The government ignored the CPNE just to divide the media.An independent judiciary and a free press are essential tools of good governance. It is the responsibility of the media to pinpoint bad governance and corruption but the media cannot correct the balance between right and wrong, between justice and injustice or between honesty and corruption. The PPP must realize that Pakistan is changing. The judiciary cannot be dictated anymore. Media cannot be monopolized. The rulers must respect the rule of law because the ultimate survival of their government as well the survival of the country lies in rule of law. REFERENCE: Plan to use media against media and judges by Hamid Mir Sunday, November 07, 2010 11/7/2010 Zi Qad 29, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/07-11-2010/Top-Story/1890.htm
IS THE DAWN GROUP ALSO CONSPIRING AGAINST THE JANG GROUP OF NEWSPAPERS/GEO TV
The credibility of the media is at stake here. –File Photo
The controversy surrounding television anchor and columnist Hamid Mir refuses to go away, and for good reason. Many questions remain unanswered. A purported telephone conversation between him and an unknown militant has shocked the country and the journalistic community in particular. If the person on the line is indeed Mr Mir, an explanation is in order about his possible ties with militant organisations. He must also answer allegations that the information he ostensibly provided may have contributed to the killing of Khalid Khawaja, a former ISI official belonging to the air force who had been abducted by the Taliban. Mr Khawaja, believed by many to be a Taliban sympathiser, is repeatedly described as a CIA agent by the man who sounds uncannily like Hamid Mir. Mr Khawaja and his wife are also held responsible in part for the bloodbath at Islamabad’s Lal Masjid. The person on the phone also spews venom of the vilest kind on the Ahmadi community. Slain Taliban leaders are referred to as martyrs.
Mr Mir denies most of the conversation and has served legal notice on the paper that broke the story. He claims that he and the organisation that employs him are being victimised for their consistent criticism of the PPP government and President Zardari in particular. Hamid Mir, who is not short of detractors even within the media, also maintains that the audio ‘recording’ is the work of the Intelligence Bureau which took a voice sample and then produced an entire conversation with the help of a “special gadget.” Mr Mir has every right to proclaim his innocence but that alone will not suffice. In this digital age it is child’s play for independent experts to confirm whether or not the voice on the tape is Mr Mir’s. It is just as simple to distinguish a doctored recording from an unedited conversation. The credibility of the media is at stake here. What is needed is an investigation that is carried out with an open mind and whose outcome is accepted and acted upon by all parties. This is imperative if allegations of unethical conduct by the media and charges of dirty tricks by the government are to be laid to rest. REFERENCE: Hamid Mir saga Dawn Editorial Thursday, 20 May, 2010 http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/editorial/hamid-mir-saga-050 IS THE WHOLE WORLD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BLUNDER OF THE JANG GROUP OF NEWSPAPERS/GEO TV
The Jang Group has become so obsessed with quickly seeing the back of the government and is probably salivating so much over the prospects of threatened long marches that sometimes it gets muddled up in its excitement... This is the heading from yesterday's daily Jang about Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani trying to reassure people - dreading a government-Supreme Court showdown in court today (October 13) - that nothing bad would happen. The headline reads: "13 March Ko Kuchh Nahin Hoga..." [Nothing will happen on March 13...]. REFERENCE: Crap All Round WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2010 http://cafepyala.blogspot.com/2010/10/crap-all-round.html
(Courtesy: Mr. Maaz Abdullah)
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OLD HABITS DIE HARD
MUHAMMAD SALEH ZAAFIR, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT OF JANG GROUP OF NEWSPAPERS/GEO TV & CONTEMPT OF COURT - ISLAMABAD: The 13-member full court of the Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted the unconditional apology of a newsman for filing a report pertaining to the alleged preparation of references against four senior judges of the said bench. Following is the text of the order issued by the 13-member full court of the Supreme Court after unconditional apology by journalist Muhammad Saleh Zaafir:
“Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, editor special reporting of daily Jang and The News, has entered appearance on our call in connection with the news items appearing in the Rawalpindi edition of the daily ‘Jang’ and daily ‘The News’ on 11th June, 2007, regarding some references being made against four senior hon’ble judges of this Court who, presumably also happen to be the members of this bench. The said news item appeared to be open to further serious exception because such a news item had been published, more than boldly, on the front pages of the said two newspapers on the day when the bench was expected to announce its decision on the maintainability of the petition filed in this court questioning the presidential reference against the chief justice of Pakistan. It may be added that certain insinuation have been made in the said news items pointing towards some alleged misconduct committed by the four un-named senior judges of this Court.
2. Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, who is the reporter of the said news items, when confronted with the same, frankly and honestly conceded that he had made no effort to verify the veracity of the allegations levelled in the said news items before publishing the same nor did he have any proof in support of the contents thereof. He, however, added at the very outset that he had utmost regards and respect for not only the said hon’ble judges of this Court but for the entire judiciary; that he did not have even an iota of doubt about their integrity and character and that reporting the said news items was a grave mistake on his part.
3. He tendered verbal unconditional apologies in open Court and also placed on record his statement to the above noted effect, in writing.
4. The regrets offered by Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, reporter/editor, appear to be sincere and the remorse expressed by him appears to be genuine. In this view of the matter, we do not consider it necessary to proceed with the matter any further except warning him to be careful in future.
5. On our call, Muhammad Afzal Butt, president of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists, also entered appearance for assistance.
6. The reporting of the proceedings which have taken place in Court in connection with the matter in question shall be made only to the extent that the apology tendered by the said Muhammad Saleh Zaafir shall be published in full and so would be published this order passed thereon. The daily ‘Jang’ and daily ‘The News’, which have published the news items in question, shall publish the apology and this order, prominently, on their front pages. Muhammad Saleh Zaafir undertakes to do the same and has been ordered accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the following is the text of unconditional apology tendered by Muhammad Saleh Zaafir before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
“I, Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, do hereby tender an unconditional apology to the hon’ble court in relation to the contents of the story that appeared in daily The News/daily Jang on June 11, 2007.
“I have been directed by the hon’ble court to submit any proof in relations to the contents of the said items. I would humbly submit that I have no proof whatsoever in relation to the matter discussed in the said story.
“I keep this hon’ble court in the highest esteem and respect. I can never ever think of bringing about a bad name to the hon’ble court or to any learned judge of the hon’able court. I would submit that I can never think of committing contempt of this hon’ble court.
“I undertake to be careful in future and am ashamed for the publication of the story. I would humbly seek pardon in relation to the grievous lapse. “I pray to the hon’ble court that no further action may kindly be proceeded in relation to the matter. I would entreat that my unconditional apology may graciously be accepted.” REFERENCES: SC warns newsman, accepts apology Wednesday, June 13, 2007 http://thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=8458 Reporter apologises to SC for ‘baseless report’ Wednesday, June 13, 2007 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20076\13\story_13-6-2007_pg7_3
REAL FACE OF GEO TV/Jang Group of Newspapers & The News International
LAHORE: Iftikhar Ahmed, the host of Geo TV show ‘Jawabdeh’, resigned on Sunday after the channel administration refused to air an interview with former Pakistan Television managing director Shahid Masood. The interview was recorded last week and was being advertised in the group’s The News and Jang newspapers. On Sunday, the Geo TV administration seized the original recording and declined to run it. Iftikhar Ahmed told Aaj Kal he was being pressured to censor parts of the interview but he did not compromise on principles and resigned. aaj kal report REFERENCE: Geo ‘Jawabdeh’ host Iftikhar Ahmed resigns in protest Monday, November 17, 2008 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\17\story_17-11-2008_pg7_34
Real Face of Dr Shahid Masood Part 1
Real Face of Dr Shahid Masood Part 2
Real Face of Dr Shahid Masood Part 3
Real Face of Dr Shahid Masood Part 4
Real Face of Dr Shahid Masood Part 5
Real Face of Dr Shahid Masood Part 6
During the infamous "Sindhi Cap Fiasco of GEO TV" Kamran Khan lied through his teeth by saying that Dr. Shahid Masood’s words against Sindhi Culture were Unintentional. When something goes ON AIR you [GEO TV] better own it that these were the Real Intentions of GEO TV. REFERENCE: GEO TV/JANG GROUP: Lies of Kamran Khan. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/12/geo-tvjang-group-lies-of-kamran-khan.html GEO TV/JANG GROUP: Sindhi Cap, National Dress & General Musharraf. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/12/geo-tvjang-group-sindhi-cap-national.html JANG GROUP/GEO TV: Contempt of Court, Media Trial & EX. Senator Saifur Rehman. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/12/jang-groupgeo-tv-contempt-of-court.html Former President Rafiq Tarar Sabotaged & Subverted the Judiciary. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2010/09/former-president-rafiq-tarar-sabotaged.html
The tailpiece
Correspondents of The News International/Jang Group/GEO TV often fight with each other
ISLAMABAD: Top constitutional expert and former chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) Fakhruddin G Ibrahim has said that he met President Asif Ali Zardari before the hearing of the NRO case on the request of Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek who wanted to seek legal guidance on NRO and his meeting was never secret, known to everyone and he never gave any assurance to President Zardari on any possible court verdict. Justice Fakhruddin, generally known as Fakhro Bhai, has written a letter to the president and the prime minister to set the record straight after reports that President Zardari had told his PPP parliamentarians that a former judge had trapped him not to defend the NRO in the Supreme Court. Zardari did not name the judge but it was widely speculated that it was Justice Fakhruddin G Ibrahim. In his letter he said senior journalist Hamid Mir was also witness to the whole developments in this regard. Hamid Mir while talking to The News also confirmed that no secret meeting ever took place between President Zardari and Fakhro Bhai and when the latter met the former it was an open secret and was even discussed in Hamid Mir’s Geo News programme Capital Talk. Hamid Mir also verified whatever was stated in the letter of Fakhro Bhai was absolutely correct. The letter makes it repeatedly clear that he never desired to meet President Zardari and only went to the Presidency on the request of his old colleague Farooq H Naek and during the said meeting the prime minister had also arrived. The issue of Swiss cases never came under discussion. He termed the allegation leveled against him defamatory and an attempt to malign him.
Mr Ibrahim sent the following details of the letter to The News:
“I write to you with reference to two columns dated 28.9.10 and 30.9.10 in The News titled “Backdoor channels played key role” and “Zardari admits he was trapped, vows to fight on” authored by Rauf Klasra. In the said articles, Mr. Klasra cites an “inside source” and levels the following defamatory allegations against me”:
1. “At the time of hearing of the NRO case in the SC, a Karachi based former judge who enjoyed good reputation and was considered to be a credible person had visited the Presidency and secretly met Asif Ali Zardari. In this meeting, the former judge had told Mr Zardari that he should not worry about the Swiss cases, as they were closed transaction.”
2. “The former judge advised Mr Zardari to believe in him and should not defend the NRO in the court and he assured him that the judges would not open the cases against him.”
3. “Mr Zardari later discussed this judge’s advice with his top legal aides and Babar Awan was the only minister who had strongly opposed the idea. But Awan’s advice was ignored as Zardari tended to believe in the so-called assurance given by the former judge, who had also taken some drafts with him to convince Zardari how it was in his own benefit not to defend the controversial law promulgated by a military dictator.”
4. “Zardari was said to have commented after reading the explosive contents of the NRO judgment that a former judge had clearly used his credibility to trap him.”
5. “According to this former judge, the Swiss cases were already a “closed transaction” and the court would not touch it at all. Based on this broad understanding given by the former judge in the presence of the legal team of the top constitutional personality, it was decided not to contest the NRO in the court.”
6. “The PPP government was feeling betrayed at the hand of a Karachi based retired judge who had met one of the top constitutional personalities of the government in Islamabad.”
“It is obvious to all that the “Karachi based former judge” repeatedly cited in the above articles is a reference to me, as my meeting with President Zardari and also my candid advice in this matter is a matter of public record and the same was even acknowledged in Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk as far back as 2009. Therefore, there was never any secrecy with regard to my meeting with President Zardari on this issue.”
“For the sake of good record, please note that I met President Zardari prior to the hearing of the NRO case at the request of an old friend and former colleague, Farooq Naek, the Chairman Senate. My advice to Farooq Naek and also to the president on the NRO was clear: The NRO was indefensible and the federation should not defend an immoral law made by a former dictator. The suggestion that I appear in the NRO case on behalf of the federation was politely declined.”
Importantly, at no time have I offered any advice in relation to the Swiss cases nor has the same ever been sought. The Swiss cases did not even come up for discussion in my meeting at the Presidency. Therefore, the despicable allegation, “I assured the president that the judges would not open the cases against him” and other equally defamatory assertions that my opinion was meant as a “trap” callously made in the aforesaid articles are highly deplorable. Kindly, note that it is not in my character to proffer any assurance as to the outcome of a court proceeding. I have not done this in my near 60-year law career, and I have no reason to start now.”
“Contrary to the defamatory allegations published in the above articles, I did not meet the president “secretly” or to “convince” him. I met the president, because I was requested to do so. I never sought any meeting on my own accord. When asked, I stated my honest legal opinion on the NRO. Even otherwise, I have never made any secret of my views on the vires of the NRO or my meeting with President Zardari. At the meeting in the presidency, where many others including the prime minister and the law minister also joined in, it was the Advocate General Sindh who openly stated that the NRO should be defended. At such stage, I left the meeting at the presidency and was not contacted by any person thereafter.” “In conclusion, I regret that a newspaper of your standing and record sought fit to make the aforesaid scandalous allegations without even the courtesy of a phone call to consider the version of the person Mr Klasra so callously sought to defame.” Yours sincerely Fakhruddin G Ebrahim. REFERENCE: Karachi judge denies president’s defamatory allegations By Ahmad Noorani Saturday, October 02, 2010 Shawwal 22, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/02-10-2010/Top-Story/1030.htm
ISLAMABAD: With reference to the report, “Karachi judge denies President’s defamatory allegations”, published in ‘The News’ on October 2, I may be allowed to ask the honourable retired judge Fakhruddin G Ibrahim that why does he consider himself the only respected former judge of Karachi who could be invited to meet the president and advise on NRO or even offer a deal. Has Karachi no other distinguished person who could have been my ‘unnamed judge’? This correspondent had only reported that President Asif Zardari had told his partymen at the Presidency in the PPP parliamentary party meeting that a former judge from Karachi had met him and advised him not to contest NRO case in SC and that the SC would not touch his Swiss cases, as it was a “closed transaction”. Mr Zardari had further claimed that he had believed the words of this former judge but he was shocked to know the court had ordered reopening of all cases against him. Mr Zardari had commented before his party men that now he was feeling betrayed because this judge had trapped him by advising him not to contest the NRO. He confessed that he had made a mistake to believe in the words of this judge.
I have a right to ask Mr Ibrahim as to where have I misquoted President Zardari and when and where did I name him in the entire story. I could not have misquoted Mr Zardari in the presence of his big media team comprising top professionals like Farhatullah Babar, Faouzia Wahab, Farrah Ishphani, Jamil Soomro, Qamar Zaman Kaira and others. I could not have misquoted the president while dozens of PPP ministers and more than 100 PPP MNAs were present in the same meeting. After the story appeared in the press Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi who had actually triggered this debate on NRO in the Presidency was the first one in the morning to call me. Dr Abbasi said, “Mr Klasra, your story is 99.9 percent correct. This is what I had said in the meeting and this was the response of the president.” After Raja Pervez Ashraf, this is second case in which a person has volunteered to confirm something without being named or asked to. I simply followed the ethics of journalism by not quoting any judge’s name in my story as I will repeat not because I was afraid of someone. I did so simply because Mr Zardari did not name the unknown judge, who according to him had trapped and deceived him. Had he quoted anyone name, I might have used his name even in the start of my story and also took his version. REFERENCE: Neither Zardari misquoted nor ‘retired judge’ named By Rauf Klasra Sunday, October 03, 2010 Shawwal 23, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/03-10-2010/Top-Story/1057.htm
DID ZARDARI APPOINTED DR SHAHID MASOOD IN JANG GROUP OF NEWSPAPERS???
Dr Shahid Masood and Jang Group of Newspapers often pull popular stunt to gain cheap popularity.[that is why Dr Shahid often write Urdu Columns because human memory is weak] One wonder which version of Shahid Masood and Jang are to be trusted? the one who started his career in ARY ONE World - Views on News, the one who used to exploit Pakistanis on Meray Mutabiq on GEO TV, or the one who joined PTV and Prime Minister Secretariat as the Advisor to PM or the one who again joined Jang Group of Newspapers and GEO TV's Meray Mutabiq [AIK BAR PHIR - ONCE AGAIN] ‘revealing’ that he is dismantled by the government, I wonder after so many somersaults [for earning quick bucks], does even the inept PPP Government need a Zionist Conspiracy to dismantle this comedian, Dr Shahid Masood? One wonders that when Dr Shahid Masood knew everything bad about Asif Ali Zardari & Co then why did he join the PPP Cabinet, he also accepted the post of MD PTV and then again quit PTV and that too when his pay package was discussed [read the news below filed by the side kick of Ansar Abbasi i.e. Muhammad Ahmad Noorani in The News]in National Assembly and Senate he filed this story in The News International about Ansar Abbasi and rejoined GEO TV again.
ISLAMABAD: Senior anchor person and former MD PTV Dr Shahid Masood has said that he has been told by a federal minister that Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigations, The News, was on the government hit list and once he is “dismantled” the next target will be Shaheen Sehbai, the Group Editor of the newspaper. Dr Shahid explained that he was clearly told by a PPP government federal minister that he (Dr Shahid) has already been ‘dismantled.’ “Ansar Abbasi is being dismantled right now while Shaheen Sehbai will be dismantled in the near future,” he said. REFERENCE:Minister reveals media-bashing plans of government, says Dr Shahid By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani Wednesday, December 31, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=19300
According to Dr Shahid Masood, the minister told him that first he (Dr Shahid) had been ‘dismantled’ successfully. “Now a character assassination campaign against the Editor Investigations, The News Ansar Abbasi is under way, and after completely dismantling him (Ansar) a similar campaign will be launched against Group Editor, The News, Shaheen Sehbai. REFERENCE: Minister reveals media-bashing plans of government, says Dr Shahid By Muhammad Ahmad Nooran Wednesday, December 31, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=19300BUT THE SAME GEO TV/JANG GROUP/THE NEWS INTERNATIONAL'S CHIEF CORRESPONDENT KAMRAN KHAN DENY ITS OWN NEWS BY REFUTING DR. SHAHID MASOOD'S CLAIM IN AN EPISODE OF GEO TV "JAWABDEH" - WATCH AS TO HOW KAMRAN KHAN EXPOSED DR. SHAHID MASOOD IN THE VIDEO.
Dr. Shahid Masood is ‘bad mouthing’ everybody from Musharraf to Zardari but would you like to watch him in this video with Musharraf and Dr Ishratul Ibad???? Dr Shahid Masood in the company of Relaxed General Musharraf and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad and that too after Dr Shahid Masood joined Pakistan Television Corporation on the orders of President Zardari:Real Face of Dr Shahid Masood
Dr Shahid Masood is basically a Sanctimonious Prick and a first class intellectual Dishonest, he started his career from ARY when it's no good founder Haji Abdul Razzaq Yaqub aka Gold (a money launderer and Gold smuggler) was facing Accountability Cases and when Shahid was there he used to sermon everyone and used to say things for which he now attack others if they say the same things on Military, Fall of Dhaka etc.etc and he was very fond of Dr A Q Khan and attacked Musharraf for forcing A Q Khan to admit proliferation. He later became pragmatic and became the fast friend of not only Musharraf but also joined even worse Bordello "The Jang Group and GEO" and exploited the Lal Masjid issue and wrote False Columns in Daily Jang and The News and rascals like Mazhar Abbas, Hamid Mir, Ansar Abbasi, Ahmed Noorani, Shaheen Sehbai , Kamran Khan and Mir Shakil ran campaign in his favour , therefore don't just blame Dr Shahid but every Media House for running amok and for ruining sanity in Pakistan ! Watch and enjoyDr Shahid Masood's Journey from ARY to GEO
News are sometimes wrong, says Shahid Masood after SBP refutes claim (Dunya News TV 26 Jan 2018) Frauds, Intellectual Dishonest and Masquerades like Mazhar Abbas, Hamid Mir, Ahmad Noorani, Ansar Abbasi , Talat Hussain and their head-pope Mir Shakil ur Rehman and their 3rd rate News group Jang which has accommodated Touts like Kamran Khan and established Yellow Journalism in Pakistan and institutionalized Corruption in Journalism cannot just put all the blame of yellow journalism on a third rate Dr Shahid Masood (worse than a police informer) , Jang Group is equally responsible for ruining the journalism in Pakistan
Dr Shahid Masood's Lies from GEO TV and More Lies from News One
Mr. Ansar Abbasi's sidekick in The News International i.e. Mr. Muhammad Ahmad Noorani had also filed this story today i.e. Sunday, November 22, 2009, and he is feeling very bad about ARY ONE WORLD'S FOUNDER OWNER Haji Abdul Razzaq of ARY TV INVOLVEMENT IN CORRUTPION and NRO. One thing is forgotten by Mr Muhammad Ahmad Noorani that Dr. Shahid Masood [GEO TV] was once affiliated with ARY One World, as its senior executive director and was the chief of ARY One World conducting the show Views On News on ARY."QUOTE"
ISLAMABAD: It might be shameful for the whole media community of Pakistan which is continuously fighting against dictatorial rules and its by-products like the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), one of the cronies of top man sitting at the capital hill top, Haji Abdul Razzaq of ARY TV, is also among the beneficiaries of the atrocious and notorious NRO ordinance. According to documents available with The News, in the scam of plundering of billions of rupees of the Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB), cases of buddies of the top man - Hussain Lawai and Haji Abdul Razzaq - were closed under the NRO after four months of the promulgation of the notorious law. Both the cases against Lawai and Haji Razzaq were criminal in nature and thus were closed/disposed of by the Special Court (Offences in Banks) on August 19, 2008, on the recommendation of a federal review board which was given on June 26, 2008.It is highly criminal on the part of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) that by defying all the rules and regulation it first gave a green signal to Hussain Lawai to be appointed as CEO of Arif Habib Bank, and now the central bank is in the process of bestowing My Bank upon the person involved in MCB plunder scam. The SBP spokesman was not available to record his version despite repeated calls made on his cell phone. A federal review board, consisting of Justice (R) Hamid Ali Mirza, Justice (R) Malik Muhammad Qayyum and Justice (R) Agha Rafiq Ahmad Khan, declared that FIR No 5/97 (Case No 12/97) and FIR No 6/97 (Case No 14/97) were politically motivated and thus the board recommend that the cases should be withdrawn. On this recommendation the concerned court acted swiftly and took no time in terminating the cases. According to the apex court judgment and legal interpretation these cases will be reopened on November 28, 2009, and both Lawai and Haji Razzaq will be liable to arrest. REFERENCE: MCB plunder scam By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani - ARY chief, Lawai were ‘cleansed’ under NRO Sunday, November 22, 2009 http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25718
HUMAN MEMORY IS WEAK BUT FIRST AWARD SHOULD BE GIVEN TO JANG GROUP AND ITS CORRESPONDETNS BECAUSE THE SAME MUHAMMAD AHMAD NOORANI HAD FILED THIS NEWS AGAINST DR. SHAHID MASOOD WHEN HE JOINED THE PPP GOVERNMENT. ALL IS FORGOTTEN NOW BECAUSE NOW DR. SHAHID MASOOD IS IN GEO TV. ISLAMABAD: The Establishment Division on Monday issued an ambiguous notification explaining the package and remunerations of the newly-appointed chairman-cum-managing director of the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). The letter of the Establishment Division bearing No 1/64/2008-E-6, dated June 30, 2008, says that besides the fixed remuneration of the new chairman PTV, any other “financial benefits” are negotiable between Dr Shahid Masood and “competent authority” at some later stage. The Establishment Division letter read: “Dr Shahid Masood, chairman PTV, who also has the additional charge of managing director, has agreed to receive the same remuneration package which was given to former MD PTV Yousuf Baig Mirza (annexure-III).” The contract of Dr Shahid Masood will be for a period of five years which could be terminated by either side on a six-month notice. The attached document (annexure-III) issued by the Establishment Division on May 25, 2007, said that MD PTV Yousuf Baig Mirza would get Rs 700,000 per month as salary. His house rent would be Rs 150,000 and utility allowances Rs 25,000. The salary would be raised by Rs 50,000 per annum. Free mobile phone, two residence telephones and one fax would be allowed. Business class tickets would be given for the national and international travels. Recreational allowance would be given according to the situation. The notification issued by the Establishment Division on Monday said Dr Shahid Masood would be paid Rs 50,000 extra to that of the package of the previous MD as he (Dr Shahid) would also hold the office of the PTV chairman. REFERENCE: Package of PTV chairman announced By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani Tuesday, July 01, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=121626 Information minister Sherry Rehman has also approved the Establishment Division notification. However, senior PTV officials see the point of “extra financial benefits to be negotiated later” with concern. The officials maintained that it would be totally against the rules of the corporation and illegal to offer somebody any percentage of the income from any programme aired on the PTV. Dr Shahid Masood was appointed as the PTV chairman through the Establishment Division letter No 1/64/2008-E-6, dated May 31, 2008, and was given the additional charge of the MD through the letter No 1/64/2008-E-6, dated June 21, 2008. REFERENCE: Package of PTV chairman announced By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani Tuesday, July 01, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=121626IF THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH MR. MUHAMMAD AHMAD NOORANI AND JANG GROUP STRIKE AGAIN AND THAT TOO WHEN DR SHAHID MASOOD JOINED GEO TV
ISLAMABAD: Senior anchor person and former MD PTV Dr Shahid Masood has said that he has been told by a federal minister that Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigations, The News, was on the government hit list and once he is “dismantled” the next target will be Shaheen Sehbai, the Group Editor of the newspaper. Dr Shahid explained that he was clearly told by a PPP government federal minister that he (Dr Shahid) has already been ‘dismantled.’ “Ansar Abbasi is being dismantled right now while Shaheen Sehbai will be dismantled in the near future,” he said. Dr Shahid Masood told The News that the message was conveyed to him in the last 48 hours through a federal minister. Shahid said that the minister was not threatening him directly but was conveying a message. “The establishment has decided to do this dismantling of senior journalists of the country (all incidentally belonging to the Jang Group of newspapers),” Dr Shahid quoted the federal minister as saying. Dr Shahid said that everything was being done by the government but the minister used the word “establishment”. It is important to mention here that the term establishment is generally used for the military authorities and intelligence agencies. According to Dr Shahid Masood, the minister told him that first he (Dr Shahid) had been ‘dismantled’ successfully. “Now a character assassination campaign against the Editor Investigations, The News Ansar Abbasi is under way, and after completely dismantling him (Ansar) a similar campaign will be launched against Group Editor, The News, Shaheen Sehbai. REFERENCE: Minister reveals media-bashing plans of government, says Dr Shahid By Muhammad Ahmad Nooran Wednesday, December 31, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=19300 Dr Shahid, who hosts the Geo News programme “Meray Mutabiq,” which is recorded in Dubai, recently resigned as the chairman/MD PTV and as special assistant to the prime minister. Dr Shahid told this scribe that he responded to the minister by saying that it was unfortunate that the secret funds of the information ministry are being misused by bribing some mercenary journalists. Dr Shahid said that he told the minister that during his stay in a government department and later in government the use of this secret fund was confirmed. “However, it is very unfortunate that the secret fund of the information ministry, which was first used to bribe journalists to get support for government policies, is now being used to tarnish the image of some leading and independent journalists for the first time in the country’s history.” Dr Shahid said that he made it clear to the federal minister that government’s policy to tarnish the image of independent journalists by bribing other journalists through secret funds of the information ministry is going to fail and it will ultimately tarnish the image of politicians, democracy and the country. REFERENCE: Minister reveals media-bashing plans of government, says Dr Shahid By Muhammad Ahmad Nooran Wednesday, December 31, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=19300Despite all the above yet the Editor of The News International, Mr Shaheen Sehbai has the audacity to file this canard line in his bi-line “story” in The News. Shame on you Mr Shaheen!
“QUOTE”
Days after his meetings at the Nadra, an important journalist of the official news agency APP started calling TV anchors and media persons on behalf of Brig Imtiaz and each time he handed over the phone to the brigadier who wanted himself on the screens. Many anchors have gone on record to say the brigadier was too eager and ready to spills the beans. One anchor wrote that the brigadier said he wanted to explode a “political nuclear bomb”. That he was going to spill the beans against his own self was irrelevant and unimportant but this time he was trying to compensate the PPP for ‘Midnight Jackals’ against Benazir Bhutto. The part of the plot to attack the media is yet to be implemented as the operation is not yet over. politicians, he said that he himself (Kaira) was the biggest cell. REFERENCE: The return of the Daylight Jackals By Shaheen Sehbai with reporting from Mazhar Tufail and Ahmed Noorani Friday, September 04, 2009 http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=24299“UNQUOTE”
Mr. Shaheen Shebai [Former Correspondent of Daily Dawn Pakistan, Former Editor of The News International, Ex Director News of ARY ONE TV Channel, Former Director of GEO News Network, and presently Group Editor, The News International, Jang Group of Newspapers, Pakistan] I hope you remember the background of Mr Shahin Sehbai [One of the Editor of The News International and earlier he was in Dawn], he had escaped from Pakistan [to save himself from the wrath of the Establishment headed by General Musharraf and Co particularly after the Controversy of Shaheen Sehbai's Story on the Murder of Daniel Pearl after the start of War on Terror] and Mr Shaheen used to run a Web Based News Service i.e. South Asia Tribune but suddenly Mr Shaheen Sehbai reappeared and closed his website [whereas Mr Shaheen during his self imposed exile in USA used to raise hue and cry against the Military Establishment that he and his family member's life is in danger] he returned to Pakistan and that too under the same Martial Law of General Musharraf and joined ARY TV Channel then GEO and then The News International [where he is presently working].ذرائع ابلاغ کی ساکھ
صدر آصف زرداری نے صحافیوں کو سیاسی اداکار کہا تھا
ججوں کی بحالی کا نوٹیفکیشن واپس لینے کے متعلق غیر مصدقہ خبر کی وجہ سے جو پاکستان میں شور مچا اور جس طرح عوام پریشان رہے، ججوں کی نیندیں حرام ہوئیں اور سیاسی حلقوں میں کھلبلی مچی اس نے ذرائع ابلاغ کی ساکھ کو بے حد دھچکہ پہنچایا ہے۔
یہ ایک عام تاثر بن گیا ہے کہ پاکستان میں میڈیا ایک بے لگام گھوڑے کی طرح ہے جو جب چاہے جہاں چاہے جیسے چاہے اور جسے چاہے روند ڈالے۔
میں گزشتہ دنوں سندھ میں سیلاب کی کوریج کے سلسلے میں لاڑکانہ پہنچا تو وہاں بتایا گیا کہ موئنجودڑو کے قریب بکریاں چرانے والے چند چرواہوں کو ایک اردو ٹی وی چینل کی ٹیم نے کہا کہ وہ دریا کے پانی میں اتریں اور چیخیں چلائیں کہ بچاؤ بچاؤ اور وہ ان کا فوٹیج بناتے رہے۔
چھ جولائی سنہ دو ہزار آٹھ کو جب آبپارہ پولیس سٹیشن کے سامنے خود کش دھماکہ ہوا تو ایک خون میں لت پت پولیس اہلکار کو ایمبولینس میں ڈالا گیا۔ عین اس وقت ایک بڑے ٹی وی چینل کے کیمرہ مین پہنچے اور انہوں نے ریسکیو ورکرز سے کہا کہ ایمبولینس کا دروازہ کھولیں سٹریچر کو پیچھے کھینچیں تاکہ وہ فوٹیج بنا سکیں۔ میں نے ان صاحب سے کہا کہ اگر اس دوران یہ شخص ہلاک ہو جائے تو انہوں نے کہا کہ ’اتنی دیر میں نہیں مرتا، جائیں اپنا کام کریں اور ہمیں اپنا کام کرنے دیں۔‘
دنیا بھر میں اصول ہے کہ جہاں بھی کوئی وقوعہ ہوتا ہے تو پولیس شہادتیں اکٹھی کرنے کی غرض سے متعلقہ علاقے کے گرد پلاسٹک کی پٹی لگاتی ہے اور ماسوائے متعلقہ حکام کے کسی کو اس کے اندر جانے کی اجازت نہیں ہوتی۔ لیکن ہمارے ہاں سب سے پہلے خلاف ورزی ہم صحافی/ کیمرہ مین کرتے ہیں۔ ایسا ہی واقعہ میریٹ ہوٹل میں بم دھماکے کے وقت پیش آیا جب پولیس اہلکاروں نے صحافیوں کو روکا تو جھگڑا ہوگیا اور ہمارے دوستوں نے اظہار رائے کی آزادی پر قدغن کا معاملہ بنا لیا۔
دنیا بھر میں اصول ہے کہ جہاں بھی کوئی وقوعہ ہوتا ہے تو پولیس شہادتیں اکٹھی کرنے کی غرض سے متعلقہ علاقے کے گرد پلاسٹک کی پٹی لگاتی ہے اور ماسوائے متعلقہ حکام کے کسی کو اس کے اندر جانے کی اجازت نہیں ہوتی۔ لیکن ہمارے ہاں سب سے پہلے خلاف ورزی ہم صحافی/ کیمرہ مین کرتے ہیں۔ ایسا ہی واقعہ میریٹ ہوٹل میں بم دھماکے کے وقت پیش آیا جب پولیس اہلکاروں نے صحافیوں کو روکا تو جھگڑا ہوگیا اور ہمارے دوستوں نے اظہار رائے کی آزادی پر قدغن کا معاملہ بنا لیا۔
بالکل اِسی طرح سنہ دو ہزار آٹھ کے انتخابات کے بعد جب حکومت سازی کے لیے میل ملاقاتیں چل رہی تھیں تو زرداری ہاؤس اسلام آباد سے جب مخدوم امین فہیم آصف علی زرداری سے مل کر نکلے تو میڈیا والوں نے ان کی گاڑی کو روکنا چاہا لیکن وہ چلے گئے۔ ایک بڑے ٹی وی چینل کے سینیئر صحافی نے وہاں سے براہ راست اپنا ‘بیپر’ دیا کہ ’ہمیں زرداری ہاؤس کے ذرائع نے بتایا ہے کہ مخدوم امین فہیم کا معاملہ طے نہیں ہوسکا اور وہ غصے میں واپس چلے گئے اور کھانا بھی نہیں کھایا۔‘
دیکھتے ہی دیکھتے وہاں موجود تمام ٹی وی چینلز کے نمائندوں نے بھی وہی بات رپورٹ کرنا شروع کر دی۔ چند منٹ کے اندر مخدوم امین فہیم نے اس بڑے ٹی وی چینل کو فون کیا اور کہا کہ ’آپ بہت غلط رپورٹ چلا رہے ہیں۔ میری آصف علی زرداری سے اچھے ماحول میں بات ہوئی اور کھانا کھانے کے بعد ہی میں وہاں سے نکلا ہوں اور کوئی اختلاف نہیں ہیں۔
میں نے یہ خبر دینے والے سینیئر صحافی سے پوچھا کہ آپ تو ہمارے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں زرداری ہاؤس کے کسی ملازم سے آپ کی بات ہوئی اور نہ کوئی فون آیا، آپ نے یہ خبر کیسے نشر کروا دی۔ وہ ہنسے اور کہا کہ ’ان کے ساتھ ایسا ہی کرنا پڑتا ہے۔ دیکھا کیسے مخدوم صاحب نے خود فون کرکے اصل صورتحال بتائی۔ ہم اُسے فون کر رہے تھے تو ان کا نمبر ہی بند تھا۔ یہی طریقہ ہے اس طرح کے لوگوں کو ٹھیک کرنے کا۔‘
یہ نہیں کہ بی بی سی اور اس جیسے بڑے بین الاقوامی ادارے اس سے مستثنیٰ ہیں۔ تمام تر ’ایڈیٹوریل چیکس‘ کے باوجود ان سے یعنی ہم سے بھی غلطیاں ہوتی ہیں۔ پاکستان میں چینلز پر لگاتار چلنے والے ٹکرز اور صحافی حلقوں میں ہونے والی گفتگو کبھی کبھی ایسا ماحول پیدا کر دیتی ہے کہ سچی خبر نکالنے کے لیے جو بنیادی شرائط کتابوں میں پڑھی ہیں وہ نظر انداز ہو جاتی ہیں اور وہ ہی غلطی ہو جاتی جس کے خلاف آواز اٹھاتے ہیں۔
کسی بھی خبر کی سچائی جاننے کے لیے اس کی ’سورس‘ یا منبع تک پہچنا چاہیئے، اس سے بات کرنا چاہیئے اور اگر بہت مشکل نہ ہو تو اسکا براہِ راست حوالہ دینا چاہیئے۔ کبھی کبھار شہر میں پھیلی خبر کو ہی سچائی مان کر چلا دیا جاتا ہے جو کہ بعد میں سب کے لیے شرمندگی کا باعث بنتی ہے، کم از کم ان کے لیے ضرور جو یہ غلطی اکثر نہیں کرتے۔ یہ صحافیانہ نا انصافی ہے اور اسے مان لینا اپنے آپ کو نیچا دکھانا ہر گز نہیں ہے۔
پاکستان میں چینلز کے اینکر پرسنس بھی کبھی سیاستدانوں کو مرغوں کی طرح لڑانے کی مشق کرتے ہیں تو کبھی کسی کی پگڑی اچھالنے سے لے کر آئین کی تشریح تک کا تمام کام بھی خود ہی سرانجام دیتے ہیں۔ ایسا ہی حال ہمارے بیشتر تجزیہ کار اور تبصرہ نگاروں کا ہے جو کبھی اپنی خواہشات کو خبر یا تجزیہ بنا کر پیش کرتے ہیں تو کبھی ‘آبپارہ کی فرمائش‘ کو۔
آخری وقت اشاعت: پير 18 اکتوبر 2010 , 15:42 GMT 20:42 PST
صحافت کا کمال
انیس سو نوے میں بے نظیر بھٹو کی پہلی حکومت گرنے سے پہلے 'معتبر ذرائع' نے میڈیا کو بتایا کہ وزیر اعظم کے شوہر کرپشن میں ملوث ہیں اور یہ ذرائع دیگر صحافیوں کو اس بارے میں دستاویزات بھی دیتے رہے۔
صحافیوں کو بتایا گیا کہ حکومت 'بس جانے ہی والی ہے' اور پھر حکومت بر طرف ہو گئی۔
صحافیوں کو بتایا گیا کہ حکومت 'بس جانے ہی والی ہے' اور پھر حکومت بر طرف ہو گئی۔
نواز شریف کی برطرفی سے پہلے بھی اچھا خاصہ ماحول بنا دیا گیا۔پھر وہ حکومت بھی برطرف ہو گئی۔
بے نظیر کی دوسری حکومت گرنے سے پہلے بھی یہ ہی ماحول بنا جس میں پھر وزیر اعظم کے بھائی میر مرتضی بھٹو کی پولیس فائرنگ میں ہلاکت کو حکومت گرانے کا اضافی جواز بنایا گیا۔
بہت سال گزرنے کے بعد جب کسی کے خلاف کبھی کوئی الزامات ثابت نہ ہوئے، میں نے اپنے ایک معروف صحافی ساتھی سے پوچھا : کیا آپ کو یہ نہیں لگا کہ ہم (یعنی ہمارا جریدہ اور ہم صحافی برادری) یہ رپورٹیں چھاپ کر کہ' اسلام اباد میں ذرائع کہتے ہیں کہ حکومت کی چھٹی آج/کل/پرسوں ہونے والی ہے' یا یہ کہ بہت کرپشن ہو رہا ہے ۔۔۔ ایک سیاسی گیم میں استعمال ہوئے ؟
میرے مشہور صحافی دوست بہت ناراض ہوئے۔ جواب میں بولے'تمہیں تو جرنلزم کا کچھ پتہ ہی نہیں!! وہ تو سکُوپ تھا سکُوپ!'
سکوپ یعنی صحافی کی ایک بڑی اور تازی اور ایکسکلوزیو خبر۔ لیکن یہ کیسا سکوپ جو تمام میڈیا کو بانٹ دیا گیا ہو؟
میں صحافت میں کئی دہائیوں سے کام کر رہی ہوں اور میں نے یہ بھی دیکھا ہے کہ ہمارے ہاں بیشتر صحافی کسی چیز کی تصدیق کرنے کی زحمت نہیں کرتے۔ بیان ضرور لے لیں گے لیکن اس سے زیادہ نہیں۔ موقع پر جانا، دستاویز نکلوانا، دعووں کو ٹیسٹ کرنا۔۔۔ یہ کون کرے اور کیوں؟ ریڈی میڈ کہانیاں مل ہی جاتی ہیں۔
اور افسوس کی بات یہ ہے کہ جو خبر اخبار میں چھپ جاتی ہے لوگ اسے حقیقت سمجھتے ہیں۔ ایک اخبار یا ٹی وی چینل پر خبر چلتی ہے تو سب اس کی بغیر چھان بین کے چلانا شروع کر دیتے ہیں۔
لوگ اسے ایسے بیان کرنا شروع کر دیتے ہیں جیسے وہ خود اس جگہ موجود تھے اور ان کی دیکھی سنی بات تھی۔
افسوس کی بات یہ ہے کہ نہ صحافی خود اس پر توجہ نہیں دینا چاہتے ہیں، نا مالکان اور نا ہی عدالتیں۔ سنہ چھیانوے میں تو حکومت کی برطرفی کے بعد عدالت نے غیر مصدقی اخباری رپورٹوں کو برائے ثبوت مان لیا تھا۔
لیکن مجھے کیا پتہ۔۔۔بقول میرے سینئیر ساتھی: مجھے تو جرنلزم کا کچھ پتہ ہی نہیں
بے نظیر کی دوسری حکومت گرنے سے پہلے بھی یہ ہی ماحول بنا جس میں پھر وزیر اعظم کے بھائی میر مرتضی بھٹو کی پولیس فائرنگ میں ہلاکت کو حکومت گرانے کا اضافی جواز بنایا گیا۔
بہت سال گزرنے کے بعد جب کسی کے خلاف کبھی کوئی الزامات ثابت نہ ہوئے، میں نے اپنے ایک معروف صحافی ساتھی سے پوچھا : کیا آپ کو یہ نہیں لگا کہ ہم (یعنی ہمارا جریدہ اور ہم صحافی برادری) یہ رپورٹیں چھاپ کر کہ' اسلام اباد میں ذرائع کہتے ہیں کہ حکومت کی چھٹی آج/کل/پرسوں ہونے والی ہے' یا یہ کہ بہت کرپشن ہو رہا ہے ۔۔۔ ایک سیاسی گیم میں استعمال ہوئے ؟
میرے مشہور صحافی دوست بہت ناراض ہوئے۔ جواب میں بولے'تمہیں تو جرنلزم کا کچھ پتہ ہی نہیں!! وہ تو سکُوپ تھا سکُوپ!'
سکوپ یعنی صحافی کی ایک بڑی اور تازی اور ایکسکلوزیو خبر۔ لیکن یہ کیسا سکوپ جو تمام میڈیا کو بانٹ دیا گیا ہو؟
میں صحافت میں کئی دہائیوں سے کام کر رہی ہوں اور میں نے یہ بھی دیکھا ہے کہ ہمارے ہاں بیشتر صحافی کسی چیز کی تصدیق کرنے کی زحمت نہیں کرتے۔ بیان ضرور لے لیں گے لیکن اس سے زیادہ نہیں۔ موقع پر جانا، دستاویز نکلوانا، دعووں کو ٹیسٹ کرنا۔۔۔ یہ کون کرے اور کیوں؟ ریڈی میڈ کہانیاں مل ہی جاتی ہیں۔
اور افسوس کی بات یہ ہے کہ جو خبر اخبار میں چھپ جاتی ہے لوگ اسے حقیقت سمجھتے ہیں۔ ایک اخبار یا ٹی وی چینل پر خبر چلتی ہے تو سب اس کی بغیر چھان بین کے چلانا شروع کر دیتے ہیں۔
لوگ اسے ایسے بیان کرنا شروع کر دیتے ہیں جیسے وہ خود اس جگہ موجود تھے اور ان کی دیکھی سنی بات تھی۔
افسوس کی بات یہ ہے کہ نہ صحافی خود اس پر توجہ نہیں دینا چاہتے ہیں، نا مالکان اور نا ہی عدالتیں۔ سنہ چھیانوے میں تو حکومت کی برطرفی کے بعد عدالت نے غیر مصدقی اخباری رپورٹوں کو برائے ثبوت مان لیا تھا۔
لیکن مجھے کیا پتہ۔۔۔بقول میرے سینئیر ساتھی: مجھے تو جرنلزم کا کچھ پتہ ہی نہیں
بارہ نجی چینلز ٹیکس ڈیفالٹر ہیں‘
پاکستان کے وزیر محنت و افرادی قوت سید خورشید احمد شاہ نےقومی اسمبلی کو بتایا ہے کہ ٹیکس نادہندگان میں بارہ نجی ٹی وی چینلز بھی شامل ہیں اور ان کی طرف حکومت کے تقریباً پونے تین ارب روپے کے ٹیکس بقایاجات ہیں۔
جمعہ کو حکومت اور حزب مخالف کے بعض اراکین کے توجہ دلاؤ نوٹس کا جواب دیتے ہوئے انہوں نے بتایا کہ اِن ٹی وی چینلز نے یہ رقم اشتہارات کے مد میں حاصل تو کی ہے لیکن حکومت کو ادا نہیں کر رہے۔
خورشید شاہ کے مطابق ٹیکس نادہندگان میں سرِفہرست جیو ٹی وی ہے
جس کے ذمے ایک ارب ارسٹھ کروڑ روپے ہیں۔
جیو ایک ارب اڑسٹھ کروڑ، اے آر وائی ون انتالیس کروڑ ستر لاکھ روپے، ٹی وی ون آٹھ کروڑ، پلے ٹی وی دو کروڑ، سماء ٹی وی ایک کروڑ اڑتیس لاکھ، ہم ٹی وی ستاون لاکھ، انڈس ٹی وی سولہ کروڑ جبکہ ایم ٹی وی ساٹھ کروڑ روپے کا ڈیفالٹر ہے۔
انہوں نے بتایا کہ اس کے علاوہ اے آر وائی ون انتالیس کروڑ ستر لاکھ روپے، ٹی وی ون آٹھ کروڑ، پلے ٹی وی دو کروڑ، سماء ٹی وی ایک کروڑ اڑتیس لاکھ، ہم ٹی وی ستاون لاکھ، انڈس ٹی وی سولہ کروڑ جبکہ ایم ٹی وی ساٹھ کروڑ روپے کا ڈیفالٹر ہے۔
اسلام آباد میں بی بی سی کے نامہ نگار اعجاز مہر کا کہنا ہے کہ توجہ دلاؤ نوٹس کے ذریعے پوچھا گیا تھا کہ ایک کروڑ یا اس سے زیادہ رقم کے ٹیکس نادہندگاں کی فہرست میں کون کون شامل ہیں اور ان کے نام ایوان میں پیش کریں لیکن ایوان میں مالیات کے وزیر کی جگہ جواب دیتے ہوئے سید خورشید شاہ نے صرف میڈیا گروپس کے نام پیش کیے اور بتایا کہ کسٹم ڈیوٹی کے مد میں تراسی افراد/ کمپنیوں کے ذمے چالیس کروڑ روپے کے ٹیکس بقایاجات ہیں۔
آئے روز ٹی وی چینلز پر حساب مانگا جاتا ہے اور آج پتہ چلا ہے کہ میڈیا خود ڈیفالٹر ہے۔ آئندہ ہم ان سے سوال کریں گے کہ پہلے خود ٹیکس دو پھر ہم سے پوچھیں۔
شیخ وقاص اکرم مسلم لیگ (ق) کے رکن ریاض فتیانہ نے کہا کہ سیاستدان تو اگر آبیانہ یا کسی گیسٹ ہاؤس کے چارجز ادا نہ کرے تو وہ انتخاب نہیں لڑ سکتا لیکن اتنے بڑے ڈیفالٹرز کے خلاف کارروائی کیوں نہیں ہوتی۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ٹیکس نادہندہ کوئی بھی ہو حکومت ان سے ٹیکس وصول کرے ۔ ان کے مطابق اگر پاکستان میں بڑے بڑے مگر مچھ ایمانداری سے ٹیکس ادا کریں تو ملک کو کشکول لے کر پھرنے اور قرضوں کی ضرورت نہیں پڑے گی۔
شیخ وقاص اکرم کا کہنا تھا کہ آئے روز ٹی وی چینلز پر حساب مانگا جاتا ہے اور آج پتہ چلا ہے کہ میڈیا خود ڈیفالٹر ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا ’آئندہ ہم ان سے سوال کریں گے کہ پہلے خود ٹیکس دو پھر ہم سے پوچھیں‘۔
جس پر سید خورشید شاہ نے کہا کہ انیس سو ستتر سے لے کر آج تک بینکوں سے قرض معاف کرانے اور ٹیکس چوری کرنے والے سیاستدانوں، میڈیا گروپس، کاروباریوں اور دیگر کی فہرست آئندہ اجلاس میں ایوان میں پیش کریں گے۔
شیخ وقاص اکرم، ریاض فتیانہ اور عبدالقادر خانزادہ نے کہا کہ سیاستدانوں کا بھی بتائیں کہ کون کتنا ٹیکس دیتا ہے؟۔ جس پر سید خورشید شاہ نے کہا کہ وہ یہ تفصیلات بھی آئندہ ایوان میں پیش کریں گے۔
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