In condemnation of Asif Zardari, Salman Taseer and Babar Awan – by Tariq Butt of Jang Group
Related articles: LUBP Archive on Tariq Butt
Apparently the following column in today’s Jang newspaper (15 Dec 2010) is written by Tariq Butt (a member of the Ansar Abbasi led Jamaat-e-Islami wing of the Jang Group), however, the column in fact seems to have been written by the CEO of Jang Group / Geo TV who was recently exposed for his willing collaboration with the ISI in creating and disseminating fake Wikileaks on India.
The column shows that Tariq Butt, Ansar Abbasi and Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman etc are real well wishers of the PPP, therefore, they want the PPP to get rid of ‘corrupt goons’ such as Asif Zardari, Babar Awan and Salman Taseer. Perhaps the PPP will be able to secure its future if it is led by ‘incorruptible’ Nawaz Sharif, Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Imran Khan?
صدرکا ماچو مین
کڑوا سچ…طارق بٹ
صدر آصف علی زرداری کی” قومی مفاہمت “کی پالیسی بظاہر صرف ایک ڈرامہ ہے، بگل میں چھری منہ میں رام رام۔ صدر اور ان کے حواری یہ کہتے نہیں تھکتے کہ وہ قومی مفاہمت کی پالیسی پر عمل پیرا ہیں مگر ان کے اعمال الفاظ سے قطعی مختلف ہیں۔ مثالیں بے شمار ہیں جو اس کو آشکار کرتی ہیں۔
آصف زرداری کے ماچو مین وزیر قانون ڈاکٹر بابر اعوان مولا جٹ بنے ہوئے ہیں اور ” مفاہمت کی پالیسی“ کے نام پر کیے جانے والے فریب کو صاف ظاہر کررہے ہیں۔ ان کی زبان پر ذرا غور کریں انتہائی غیرمحتاط، نازیبا بلکہ رکیک۔ ٹارگٹ صرف اور صرف صدر کے سب سے بڑے سیاسی حریف نوازشریف اور شہباز شریف ہیں۔ہمیں اس سے کوئی غرض نہیں کہ وہ کس کو تنقید کا نشانہ بناتے ہیں یہ ان کی اپنی صوابدید ہے۔تاہم اگر صدر کے نزدیک سیاسی مفاہمت اپنی پارٹی کے نمائندوں کو پنجاب کابینہ میں بطور وزیر رکھنا ہے تو یہ صرف اور صرف موقع پرستی ہے بہتی گنگا میں ہاتھ دھونے والی بات ہے۔
اگر شہبازشریف کی حکومت پیپلزپارٹی کے وزراء کے مستعفی ہونے سے گرتی ہے تو صدر زرداری کے لئے جائے بھاڑ میں انہیں کیا پڑی کہ وہ اپنے سب سے بڑے سیاسی مخالف کی حکومت کو سہارا دیں۔ اپنے وزراء کو صوبائی کابینہ میں رکھنے کا مقصد ہی یہ ہے کہ بہتی گنگا میں ہاتھ دھونا۔ کیونکہ انہیں معلوم ہے کہ اگر پنجاب حکومت گرگئی تو پھر ان کی حکومت بھی نہیں بچ سکے گی اسے جانا ہی ہوگا یہ تو نوشتہء دیوار ہے۔
پنجاب میں تو نون لیگ کی حکومت دراصل موجودہ جمہوری نظام میں ایک چیک اینڈ بیلنس کا کام کر رہی ہے ۔جو سازش صدر زرداری اور گورنر پنجاب سلمان تاثیرنے ق لیگ سے مل کر تیار کی تھی کہ وہ ن لیگ کی پنجاب میں حکومت سے چھٹکارا حاصل کریں بری طرح ناکام ہوئی اور پیپلزپارٹی کو منہ کی کھانی پڑی۔ گورنر راج الٹا پڑ گیا۔ سب سازشیوں کا منہ کالا ہوااور صدر زرداری کو وہ کام کرنا پڑ جو وہ کسی قیمت پر نہیں کرنا چاہتے تھے وہ تھا ججوں کو بحال کرنا۔ گورنر راج کے دوران ہی نوازشریف نے ججوں کی بحالی کیلئے لانگ مارچ کیا اور صدر زرداری چاروں خانے چت ہوگئے۔ اس کے بعد انہیں کرپشن اور من مانیوں کی وجہ سے آزاد عدلیہ (جو وہ کسی بھی صورت نہیں چاہتے تھے اور ڈوگر جیسے جج رکھنے کے خواہاں تھے )کا سامنا کرنا پڑرہا ہے اس سارے عمل نے انہیں انتہائی کمزور کر دیا ہے۔
صدر زرداری کے ماچو مین نمبر ون کے الفاظ اور نعروں پر غور فرمائیں کیا یہ ایک صوبائی حکومت میں بیٹھے اتحادیوں کی زبان ہے۔ قطعاً نہیں ۔ ایسے تیر تو صرف وہی داغ سکتے ہیں جو ایک دوسرے کے خون کے پیاسے ہوں۔ باوجود اس کے کہ کوئی بھی یہ کہنے میں تامل محسوس نہیں کرتا کہ شہبازشریف کی حکومت موجودہ سیٹ اپ میں بہترین ہے اگرچہ اس میں کافی خامیاں اور خرابیاں بھی ہیں خصوصاً اس کا ون مین شو ہونا۔
لیکن بابر عوان کو وزیر اعلیٰ کا ہر اقدام اور پالیسی خراب لگتی ہے۔ وہ فرماتے ہیں کرپشن عروج پر ہے، شہباز شریف سیر کرنے دبئی چلے گئے، آشیانہ اسکیم پانچ پراپرٹی ڈیلروں کو نوازنے کا منصوبہ ہے، پنجاب میں لوٹ سیل لگی ہوئی ہے، دو روپے کی روٹی کیلئے 60 لاکھ کا ہیلی کاپٹر استعمال ہواہے وغیرہ وغیرہ۔ صدر زرداری کے دوسرے ماچو مین سلمان تاثیر ہیں۔ وہ فرماتے ہیں کہ آشیانہ لوٹ مار سکیم ہے، گورنر ہاؤس پر قبضے کے لئے پنجاب حکومت ہر ماہ منصوبے بناتی ہے وغیرہ وغیرہ۔
مگر مزے داری کی بات یہ ہے کہ گورنر اصل مسئلے کا جس میں انہوں نے آئین کی سنگین خلاف ورزی کی، پر اپنی زبان کھولنے کو تیار نہیں حالانکہ وہ ہر معاملے پر کھل کر رائے زنی کرتے ہیں۔یہ مسئلہ ہے ان کی خاموشی سے سری لنکا روانگی اور وہاں دو دن کا قیام۔یہ خفیہ دورہ کاروباری تھا مبینہ طور پرسلمان تاثیر نے سری لنکا کے اسٹاک ایکسچینج میں کافی بڑی انوسٹمنٹ کی ہوئی ہے۔آئین کے تحت موجودہ عہدہ رکھتے ہوئے سلمان تاثیر کوئی کاروبار نہیں کرسکتے۔ مزید یہ کہ وہ خاموشی سے بغیر حکومت کو اطلاع دیئے ملک سے باہر نہیں جاسکتے۔ ان کا خفیہ غیر قانونی طور پر سری لنکا جانا اب شک وشبے سے بالاتر ہے کیونکہ بین الاقوامی ہوا بازی کی تنظیم نے بھی اس کی تصدیق کردی ہے۔ سلمان تاثیر کو چاہئے کہ وہ شریف برادران کی ”کرپشن اور لوٹ سیل“ کو ضرور آشکار کریں مگر انہیں سب سے پہلے اپنے غیر قانونی اقدام پر بھی ضرور بولنا چاہئے۔ ہمیں یقین ہے کہ جب وہ گورنر نہیں ہوں گے تو یہ اقدام ان کے گلے ضرور پڑے گا۔ لہٰذا انہیں چاہئے کو وہ ابھی سے اس مسئلے پر اپنا موقف صاف طور پر بیان کردیں اور اپنے غیر آئینی اقدام پر معافی مانگیں۔
بابر اعوان اور سلمان تاثیر جس پالیسی پر گامزن ہیں وہ دراصل ایوان صدر کی ہے۔ مقصد یہ ہے کہ آصف زرداری کے سیاسی حریفوں کو چین سے نہ رہنے دیا جائے۔ یہ حضرات تو صرف اسی حکمت عملی کی ترجمانی کر رہے ہیں۔ سوائے محترمہ فوزیہ وہاب ، سینیٹر جناب فیصل رضا عابدی اور ایک دو دوسرے پیپلزپارٹی کے لیڈروں کے اس جماعت کاکوئی بھی رہنما وہ زبان بولنے کو تیار نہیں جو بابر اعوان اور سلمان تاثیر استعمال کر رہے ہیں صرف اسی وجہ سے کہ وہ صدر کے قریب ترین ہیں۔ پیپلزپارٹی کے بڑے لیڈر ایک حد اوردائرے میں رہ کر مخالفین پر تنقید کرتے ہیں اس کو اس سطح پر نہیں لے جاتے کہ وہ ایک ذاتی جھگڑا نظر آنے لگے۔
صدر زرداری کی طرف سے جو نیا ٹاسک بابر اعوان اور سلمان تاثیر کو دیا گیا وہ آئندہ چند ماہ میں ہونے والے بلدیاتی انتخابات کیلئے مہم چلانا ہے جس کے دوران شریف برادران پر ہر قسم کے الزام اور تہمت لگا کر انہیں عوام کی نظروں میں بدنام کرنا ہے۔ صدر سے زیادہ سے زیادہ وفاداری ظاہر کر کے بابر اعوان پیپلزپارٹی کے کسی بڑے عہدے (جیسے سیکرٹری جنرل) کو حاصل کرنے کے بھی خواہش مند ہیں۔ نئی پیپلزپارٹی جو محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو شہید کی شہادت کے بعد جناب آصف زرداری کی سربراہی میں وجود میں آئی ہے اس میں بابر اعوان جیسے حضرات کا بڑا اسکوپ ہے اور صدر انہیں اہم پارٹی عہدے دینے میں کوئی ہچکچاہٹ محسوس نہیں کریں گے۔
اب یہ پارٹی رحمن ملک، سلمان فاروقی، حسین حقانی، جیسے لوگوں کی ہے جس میں جہانگیر بدر جیسے وفاداروں کی گنجائش کم کم ہے۔ لہٰذا وفادار ٹولے کو نئے حالات سے سمجھوتہ کر لینا چاہئے اگر وہ پیپلزپارٹی میں رہنا چاہتے ہیں۔ بابر اعوان اور سلمان تاثیر ، وفاقی حکومت کے تعلقات نوازشریف کے ساتھ اس خوفناک حد تک خراب کرچکے ہیں کہ ان میں بہتری کی کم ہی امید ہے۔ بہت سے لوگوں کو یقین ہے کہ اگر بابر اعوان اور سلمان تاثیر کے حملوں کو محدود کیا جائے تو صدر کے تعلقات نوازشریف سے کافی بہتر ہوسکتے ہیں لہٰذا جناب آصف زرداری کو چاہئے کہ اگر وہ اپنی قومی مفاہمت پالیسی کو درست ثابت کرنا چاہتے ہیں تو ان دو حضرات کو روک دیں پھر دیکھیں مثبت نتائج فوراً سامنے آنا شروع ہو جائیں گے
Governor Taseer slams Geo
* Advises Nawaz to ‘relax’, focus on running province instead of keeping track of his whereabouts
Staff Report
LAHORE: Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer on Tuesday said Mir Shakeelur Rehman, the group chief executive and group editor-in-chief of Jang Group, was himself an absconder as he had fled after plundering Voice of America’s money, and his channel was constantly broadcasting false reports of his (Taseer’s) departure to Dubai.
Taseer was talking to reporters during his visit to Alhamra Art Gallery, where he inaugurated a paintings exhibition. Taseer said his wife and daughter had flown to Dubai while he was at the Governor’s House and was participating in a meeting of the Aitchison College’s Board of Governors, which, he said, was proof of his presence in Lahore. He deplored Geo News for flashing images of air tickets of his wife and daughter – in total violation of norms of responsible journalism – to give the impression that he (governor) had left the country. “What type of journalism Jang and Geo are doing? They only seem to be chasing a provincial governor of the Pakistan People’s Party,” he claimed.
Advice: The governor said that it was a fact that the PML-N wanted to take over the Governor’s House. “I want to advise Mian Nawaz Sharif to relax as their provincial government will not be ousted, and he should focus on running the province’s affairs instead of keeping track of my whereabouts because I’m not going anywhere,” Taseer said. He added that he wanted to tell Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif that he was going nowhere and was very much in the country and would remain here. He also said Ansar Abbasi, Pervaiz Rashid and Rana Sanaullah should remain in their senses. “They are totally unaware. They don’t even know whether I’m in the country or not.” He said the provincial rulers were playing havoc with the state and the province.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\12\15\story_15-12-2010_pg1_6
Missing, not missing
By: Mubashir Hassan | Published: December 15, 2010
Print Facebook Digg StumbleUpon Text Size
LAHORE – While an earlier controversy about Governor Salmaan Taseer’s alleged absence from the country without any intimation to the Presidency is yet to reach its logical conclusion, a section of media (not Nawa-i-Waqt Group) on Tuesday created stir in the provincial hierarchy by airing yet another news of the governor’s mysterious departure to Dubai.
Governor’s spokesperson Farrukh Shah’s reaction to reported absence of his boss also gave some credence to the media reports when he said, “He would neither deny nor confirm the story.”
But this time around, the drama came to an abrupt end later in the evening when Taseer suddenly appeared at a paintings exhibition at Alhamra Art Gallery, and criticised a section of media for airing fabricated news about his departure.
“I would like to tell Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman that he himself is a fugitive after looting money of Voice of America. I wonder why I am being targeted by his media team every day,” a visibly perturbed Taseer observed while talking to media.
Clarifying his position about the latest reports of his alleged absence, the governor said his wife and daughter flown to Dubai while he remained present in the Governor House and also attended the meeting of Board of Directors of Aitchison College.
The governor said when he wanted to go abroad he would inform the President House.
“It is now up to the Presidency to notify my leave,” he said. He, however, did not make any further comment over his reported absence from country a few days back.
He questioned what type of journalism this particular media group was doing, as they were just targeting the governor belonging to Pakistan People’s Party.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/15-Dec-2010/Missing-not-missing
Taseer laughs off reports about Dubai visit
From the Newspaper
(7 hours ago) Today
Tagged: pml-n chief, Salman Taseer, shahbaz sharif
Governor Punjab Salman Taseer talking to the media persons after an exhibition at Al Hamra Art Gallery. A local news channel aired the news of Governor Punjab, being on some secret tour to a foreign country on Tuesday. – Online Photo
LAHORE: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer sprang a surprise on his detractors by making a sudden appearance at an exhibition here amid rumours that he had surreptitiously flown out to Dubai.
“Shahbaz Sharif should not worry. We are here and we stand by him,” the governor said on Tuesday afternoon at Alhamra Arts Centre where he attended an exhibition of photographs about Benazir Bhutto’s life.
“I am not going anywhere. When I leave the country I inform the Presidency and it is up to the Presidency to issue a notification (accordingly).” Before his appearance at Alhamra, Governor Taseer was the subject of widespread rumours that he had once again slipped out of the country, Dubai being his reported destination.
The rumours got some credence when some channels flashed two boarding cards with the Taseer surname written on it.
One of the cards said ‘Taseer S’ had flown out of Lahore on it, while the other which also bore ‘Taseer A’ as the title, was identified, rightly, as belonging to the governor’s wife, Aamna Taseer. More than one member of the Taseer households travels around with the initial ‘S’.
As it turned out, those looking to catch Salman Taseer in the act ended up spying on Shehrbano, his daughter. The mix-up provided the trigger-happy governor with a real opportunity to display his signature sarcasm in public.
Only last week, he had been grilled by the media and by the PML-N ministers for disappearing from the scene unannounced.
In that instance, the people learnt on the good authority of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah that the governor had gone to Dubai, but later he was located in Sri Lanka.
By way of an attempt at damage control, Mr Taseer’s side said that he had moved only as far as Sukkur but this defence was dented with the aid of ‘evidence’ of his journey to Sri Lanka.
Mr Taseer was blamed for creating a potentially unsavoury constitutional crisis by vanishing from the scene without formal leave and without putting in place an acting governor to look after the affairs of the province.
It was said that since the governor was in Dubai, Speaker Rana Iqbal Ahmed Khan could not chair the session as a consequence of the constitutional role assigned to him in such a situation.
The incident led to an exchange of a series of fiery statements and one true relic from that fight was a statement by Rana Sana in which he encouraged the ‘deserter’ (Governor Taseer) to come back home by promising him amnesty.
As this gem from the Punjab law minister drew a chuckle from the spectators, it was clear that the government of Chief Minster Sharif had won one more round against a man who it said had been imposed on it in the most oppressive meaning of the term.
The governor also lambasted a media group which he alleged was targeting him at the behest of the PML-N.
Mr Taseer asked Chief Minister Sharif not to waste his energies in keeping an eye on him and told him to concentrate on running the affairs of his government. “Shahbaz Sharif should relax; his government is not being toppled,” he said.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/15/taseer-laughs-off-reports-about-dubai-visit-2.html
December 12, 2010 » International » Full Article
PML-N submits resolution against Taseer in Punjab Assembly over ‘vanishing act’
Sunday, December 12, 2010, 18:00 [IST] A A A Follow us on
Lahore, Dec 12 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly against Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, for his alleged misconduct and violation of the Constitution.
PML-N member Dr.Yasmin submitted the resolution, which stated that Taseer went abroad without notifying anyone, due to which his office remained vacant for several days, the Dawn reports.
The resolution further stated that the Punjab Governor was guilty of violating the Constitution, and therefore, the president should dismiss him and lodge a reference against the matter.
On Wednesday, the whereabouts of Governor Taseer had become a subject of wild speculation in Punjab after sources in the provincial government revealed that he had been ‘missing from the system for the past 72 hours’.
Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed that the “governor had slipped to Dubai, and was on his way back because the media had noted his absence and the related constitutional questions”.
However, a spokesperson for the Governor’s House was quick to deny the minister’s claim, saying, “The Governor is on a private visit to Sukkur, and will return to Lahore on Wednesday evening after a short stay in Karachi.”
But Sanaullah reiterated his claim, saying that he had checked with the District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Sukkur, who had expressed ignorance about the presence of Taseer in his district. (ANI)
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/12/12/pmln-submits-resolution-against-taseer-in-punjab-assemblyo.html
‘Missing Governor’ creates furore in PA
By: Iqtidar Gilani | Published: December 09, 2010
Print Facebook Digg StumbleUpon Text Size
LAHORE – Members Punjab Assembly raised questions about the whereabouts of the Governor, constitutional standing of the Assembly’s proceedings while Speaker Rana Iqbal was conducting the House when he should be the Acting Governor, and why Salman Taseer did not inform the government prior to leaving the country.
Interestingly, even the PPP ministers and members did not have any clue about the Governor, which allowed the ‘N’ and ‘Q’ Leagues MPAs to dilate upon the subject without any hindrance from any quarter.
The reports of Governor’s secret foreign visit without giving acting charge to Rana Iqbal triggered heated debate in the House, forcing the chair to adjourn the session for 15 minutes to know actual situation and avoid any constitution in the province.
When the session started after an hour and 50 minutes delay, MMA’s emotional Ali Haider Noor Niazi, on a Point of Order, drew the attention of the chair towards reports of Salman Taseer’s leaving the country without fulfilling the constitutional requirements of giving charge to the acting governor. He stressed the speaker could not chair the session as he was acting governor after Salman Taseer left the country unceremoniously.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah counselled the speaker to confirm whether or not the governor was in the country as in his absence, he (speaker) was officiating governor and even did not require oath to assume the office. The Speaker adjourned the session for 15 minutes and after the short break Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmed conducted the proceedings of the House that focused on the Governor’s visit and looming constitutional crisis.
Before the short adjournment, Ali Haider Niazi said the Governor had proceeded on a secret foreign tour without obtaining ex-Pakistan leave.
“You cannot chair the session as you are acting governor. You should avoid violation of the constitution and ask Deputy Speaker to chair the session”, he suggested.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Lahore/09-Dec-2010/Missing-Governor-creates-furore-in-PA
Salmaan Taseer: The case of the missing governor
Shaheryar Popalzai
The PPP leader was reportedly headed to Sri Lanka – a claim Colombo denies
Sound the alarms! Inform the Army! The governor is missing…again! Armed with his designer sunglasses and iPad, Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer managed to slip from under the provincial government’s radar for the second time in a row. Television channels ran tickers on the governor’s absence today, while the governor tweeted that he hadn’t gone anywhere (not to mention taking out the time to slam the Punjab government and a certain media group for the hype around his alleged ‘exit’).
Known for his outrageous comments and responses to political opponents, Mr Taseer never fails to surprise us. From defending minorities in Pakistan to annoying fellow politicians on Twitter (read Marvi Memon), Mr Taseer’s latest escapade has kept us all entertained, to say the least.
The Punjab Assembly woke up to the governor’s absence after 72 hours, when media reports alerted the speaker. The 18th amendment made way for the speaker of the provincial assembly to take charge if and when the governor is not able to perform his/her duty.
34. Substitution of Article 104 of the Constitution.— In the Constitution, for Article 104, the following shall be substituted namely:—
“104. Speaker Provincial Assembly to act as, or perform functions of Governor in his absence.- When the Governor, by reason of absence from Pakistan or for any other cause, is unable to perform his functions, the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly and in his absence any other person as the President may nominate shall perform the functions of Governor until the Governor returns to Pakistan or, as the case may be, resumes his functions.”.
When Rana Sanaullah woke up to the absence, he announced that the governor had fled to Dubai without informing the cabinet secretary and the speaker (who would be acting governor). Another news report ran that the spokesperson for the governor house had said that Taseer was in Sukkur.
The News ran a report stating that Salmaan Taseer had met (or rather ran into) a senior correspondent of Daily Jang on a Karachi-Colombo flight. Taseer had declared that he was on his way to Sri Lanka to follow up on President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent trip. When the Sri Lankan High Commissioner was asked about this, he said he was not aware of the visit, as Salmaan Taseer had not applied for a visa.
“If the governor has gone to Sri Lanka, he must have travelled on a private passport. Otherwise on official or diplomatic passport he is required to obtain visa from the High Commission before embarking on the journey. At least I am not aware of his visit to Sri Lanka last week” – Sri Lankan High Commissioner Air Chief Marshal (R) Jayalath Weerakkody.
The governor of course, announced on Twitter that he was hanging out with (imaginary) friends:
@SalmaanTaseer According 2 The News. UAE Ambsdr & Sri Lanka HC denied my prescence However Ambsdr of Narnia has officially admitted I was there! (sic)
Inside sources reveal the governor was busy raising an army with Aslan to help save Punjab. Meanwhile, as to Rana Sanaullah and the media groups clamoring to know where the governor was, he had this to say:
@SalmaanTaseer I don’t have to answer any joker where I am (sic)
@SalmaanTaseer GEO has gone mad again! I’m here. Going no where Their credibility is zero (sic)
To add to the drama, another report stated that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had confirmed the trip and released the relevant documents.
In all this drama, there is of course a serious issue to be raised. The absence of the governor without handing over charge to the speaker meant that the province was without a constitutional head, and it also renders the assembly speaker ineligible to preside over the session. If we accept that the governor has travelled to Sri Lanka, on a private passport, as a representative of the federation and without informing his successor, a clear violation of the constitution has taken place.
Since there is talk of proof and a violation, will the Governor of Punjab perhaps set an example for current and future generations of politicians and leaders in the country? Will he be moral enough to resign if the reports are true? Or should we buy into his claims of a rabid Punjab Government using under-handed means to topple him from his throne? Whatever the case may be, Taseer is sure to continue ‘saving’ Punjab – even if it has to be one tweet at a time.
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/3438/salman-taseer-the-case-of-the-missing-governor/
Salmaan Taseer slams the Punjab government and media; never went to Dubai
Mr Governor, they are habitual, in fact!
By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD – Punjab Governor Salman Taseer rebuking the country’s largest media group over sensational
reporting arouses questions about the credibility of the group that otherwise boasts of upholding journalistic
norms and traditions. But fallacy doesn’t take long to expose, as the truth will out. And it did so in Governor Taseer
appearing before the media to negate the media group’s claim that he had left the country for Dubai. The footages
of the tickets shown by the group’s front-running channel turned out to be of the Governor’s family members (his
wife’s and daughter’s).
As a reminder, the newspapers of the same group a few days earlier had run a WikiLeaks story based on facts
that India had been poking in Balochistan and Waziristan. However, the group somehow failed to realise that
the very story was the scoop of a formidable publication, The Daily Mail, published a day earlier. It seems that
upon discovering this, the very thought of using the left-over of another newspaper didn’t sink well with the
group as it started to contradict the factual news. The group fell low enough to the extent of apologising to India
for publishing the news item. However, the day the group indulged in the indignant act, the Indian newspapers
themselves published news based on WikiLeaks on the same points, including Congress’ involvement in religious
politics, which was the mainstay of The Daily Mail’s breaking news.
Tabloidization of the Governor’s news, and the apology to the Indians by the group, could only be called bad
journalism that doesn’t conform to the principled values of upholding the truth no matter what.
Reacting to the group’s fabricated news, Governor Salman Taseer called the group’s owner “an absconder who had
fled after plundering Voice of America’s money.”
Taseer is on record for deploring the channel flashing images of air tickets of his wife and daughter – “in total
violation of norms of responsible journalism – to give the impression that I (governor) had left the country.”
“What type of journalism” they “are doing,” questioned Taseer. “They only seem to be chasing a provincial
governor of the Pakistan People’s Party,” he added.
The two episodes also reveal that the group either lacks professionally qualified journalists or they indulge in such
things on purpose. For educated members of the audience, it is tantamount to treachery for cheap popularity.
This perhaps stems from the misconception that a channel that is first at breaking news is always the best.
And this frustration to be the first may well have been fuelled by The Daily Mail taking the lead on the Indian-
related WikiLeaks story, and other contemporary media almost every day outperforming them on various issues.
Whatever the reason, journalism that doesn’t uphold the norm of validating facts before dissemination and
offering apologies or clarifications, is highly unacceptable to the audience.
A cross-section survey conducted by The Daily Mail on the two issues reveals that majority of the audience disliked
the group’s somersaults on the two issues. Independent research also shows that being the first to break news
doesn’t have anything to do with reputation. People prefer a channel or a newspaper which is reliable in terms of
facts of stories and the quality of the debate that generally surrounds news.
Passing on rumours about political celebrities and offering apologies to the rival country is the last thing the people
of Pakistan can condone. Such acts allude to the hidden, personal agenda of the media group on different issues.
http://dailymailnews.com/1210/16/FrontPage/index.php?id=5
Babar Haiwan should be shameful on his act of distributing sweets when Bhutto was hanged.