We have some really corrupt journalists out there in Pakistan. I have, with my own eyes seen Nawaz Sharif’s goon hand out ‘envelopes’ to certain journalists before press conferences, and I leave it upto you to imagine what those envelopes contain. Now Im not goign to bash Nawaz for this, but these journalists… they think they are invincible and can write articles against people who they dont like, or who they dont pay up, and its not just the political journalists, they come in all aspects, even the showbizz and sports ones.
Also, some of these journalist goons have the tendency to push and shove others in an attempt to get into the television screen everytime someone important is being interviewed, and I would like to mention Mr. Saleh Zafir’s name here (from the jang group of papers), who struggles and literally wrestlers to get his chaand si bhooti (and tind) infront of the cam when someone important is being interviewed. In journalists ka koi haal nahee hai.
In a gun-toting society like Pakistan, I 'd be surprised if these journalists didn't have big guns supporting them. If they are maligning someone, I bet that the victim/target's opponent and his goons are financially and physically supporting/protecting the journalist.
Yar, alot of them actually dont have big guns supporting them, but they still feel they are some sort of 'badmaashes or chachaz' as they think they can write articles against anyone who doesnt get cozy with them. Sadly, most politicans try and keep them happy rather than giving them a painful 'teeli'. I just dont like how they abuse their roles by threatening to write offensive articles if they dont get what they want, that is not acceptable.
Fraudz, the mechanics of that would be mind boggling indeed.
True Spock, that occurence from mian saab's time coined the term 'lifafa journalism'.
Though actual lifafa journalism may not be there now, but most of the so called 'analysts' blabber what their particular 'houses' inspire them to. Atleast most of the time.
The definitive book on lifafa journalism is the late Zamir Niazi's the press in chains (may Allah bless his soul) . The actual origin of yellow journalism was during Ayub Khans term in power when private papers were taken over by the government. The first successful smear campaign was launched against Fatima Jinnah when they targetted in West pakistan that a woman couldn't come to power as it was UnIslamic and that she lived an unnatural life without a husband.
On a side note Haris, lifafa journalism is alive and well in Pakistan right now..Pakistan is also far more dangerous for serious investigative journalists then at anytime in the past.
Also, some of these journalist goons have the tendency to push and shove others in an attempt to get into the television screen everytime someone important is being interviewed, and I would like to mention Mr. Saleh Zafir's name here (from the jang group of papers), who struggles and literally wrestlers to get his chaand si bhooti (and tind) infront of the cam when someone important is being interviewed. In journalists ka koi haal nahee hai.
Ditto! In fact, journalism is not playing that positive role it is supposed to.... Had journalism (an important pillar of the society) been honest we would see a different picture.
Just like print journalism , most of our news except a few maybe are just lifafa type.
Zak, lifafa journalism actually ended from what I have heard, but its evolved into something much worse. Previously, all they did was collect their lifafaz and write praiseworthy articles, but now these journalists are backed by powerful financial groups like Geo/Jang so the incentive for lifafaz might not be there anymore, and an uglier side of lifafa journalism (thanks haris, forgot the word they used for it back in Nawaz's days), is now nothing but blackmail journalism with group baazi and all. You wont even believe it, even some young parhi likhi journalists act like such typical blackmailing witches nowadays, so Im not so positive what the future for journalism holds. Whats worse is, if you as a civilian of Pakistan even try to raise your voice against an article which is inaccurate or biased, these journalists find a way to get back to you, through their print media somehow. Kaafi par lagg gaye hain in ko aajkal. I would also like to again mention the reporters of Jang are probably the worst in their category when it comes to resorting to blackmail and previous lifafa journalism.
There's no doubt that there are still packs of "lifafa journalists" left in some of our big newspapers. But if you take a look @ the newsmedia, we got pretty strong representation. We got people like Hamid Mir, Irshad Ahmad Haqani, and Ata ul Haq Qasmi type great people and we also got some cheap writers whom job is nothing but to praise our govt. officials.
The prospect of journalism esp. in newsmedia is not as bad as it used to be about 10yrs ago. With the accession of Geo, ARY and Aaj tv, we got better minded people doing a great job for journalism.
A Lahore High Court full bench on Friday directed Geo TV chairman Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman to repeatedly telecast an apologise on the TV besides publishing it on front pages of the dailies Jang and The News till the next hearing on March 12. The bench consisting of Justice Sayed Zahid Hussain, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice MA Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed issued the directive during the contempt of court proceedings against the channel for telecasting a programme, which according to the court, was an attempt to lower the dignity of courts. Mr Rehman told the court that the information regarding courts shown in the programme was incorrect. The court observed that the information should have been verified before being telecast. The bench told him to be careful in the future. The court ordered the channel to start telecasting the apology from Friday. It observed that apology should be published at a prominent place on front pages of dailies Jang and The News. The court exempted Mr Rehman from personal appearance but refused to exempt his son Mir Ibrahim from the same
There's no doubt that there are still packs of "lifafa journalists" left in some of our big newspapers. But if you take a look @ the newsmedia, we got pretty strong representation. We got people like Hamid Mir, Irshad Ahmad Haqani, and Ata ul Haq Qasmi type great people and we also got some cheap writers whom job is nothing but to praise our govt. officials.
The prospect of journalism esp. in newsmedia is not as bad as it used to be about 10yrs ago. With the accession of Geo, ARY and Aaj tv, we got better minded people doing a great job for journalism.
Will Justice Sayed Zahid Hussain, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice MA Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed also be fired by Musharraf for intimidating journalists?
The remarks were made during hearing of a contempt of court case taken up by a full bench of the court over the telecast of a Geo TV programme “Gumnam” here on Friday. The bench comprised Justice Syed Zahid Hussain, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice M A Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Syed Shabar Raza Rizvi and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed.
The court observed that respect of constitutional institutions particularly the judiciary was the responsibility of all, adding such programmes should be avoided that damaged the prestige of the court. The bench said that positive comments could be passed on the court but not against the facts.
Mir Shakilur Rehman, Geo Chief Executive Officer Mir Ibrahimur Rehman, Director News Nasir Baig Chughtai, producer of ‘Gumnam’, its presenter and other officials appeared before the court and sought unconditional apology.
To a question, Mir Shakilur Rehman told the court that the cassette of ‘Gumnam’ programme in which a clerk of the court was shown taking bribe was received by Geo from an unknown source. All aspects of the same were checked but human error could not be ignored. He said it is the endeavour of Geo to present true facts to the people and the network staff take due care in this regard. However, they erred in presenting the programme for which they were tendering apology.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan appeared on behalf of Mir Shakilur Rehman and Mir Ibrahimur Rehman while Muhammad Ali Mazhar advocate appeared for Director News Nasir Baig Chughtai, Programme Producer Ismail Jailani and Presenter Haider Jinnah while Manzoor Malik advocate appeared for Editor News, Electronic Media News Network Shafiq Awan and submitted written replies to the court.
Mir Shakilur Rehman and Mir Ibrahimur Rehman in their replies on behalf of Geo TV told the court that Geo television network was established in 2002 and today it was Pakistan’s most popular news and entertainment channel. The aim of its programmes was betterment of the society, provision of entertainment and sow telecast. ‘Gumnam’ programme is a serial that was based on videos received from unknown source, they added.
In the first programme of ‘Gumnam’, Geo showed that a medical certificate was obtained through illegal means and a clerk of the high court receive illegal gratification. The footage also showed that the fake medical certificate provided base for allowing bail in a case by the honourable court, which is wrong. The bail allowed by the honourable high court was neither on the basis of medical grounds nor fake medical certificate. Geo highly regretted the mistake and tendered unconditional apology, assuring the court against the recurrence of such muddle in future.
Geo also offered to air views of the court to correct the facts and assured of its due respect, adding it would not let hurt the image of the court in any manner.
They pleaded that by accepting the unconditional apology, the court may withdraw the notice. Judges of the full bench reviewed the written reply submitted by the respondents in chamber and directed that Geo television should telecast its explanation and apology before the next hearing in the case. Besides Geo, Jang and The News should also prominently publish the apology. The court adjourned the case till March 12. Mir Shakilur Rehman was exempted from appearing in the court in person on the next date of hearing and until further orders.
