ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has demanded an apology from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Pervaiz Rashid, over their foul language directed at senior journalists and anchorpersons.
PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement said that the audio conversation reflects on the anti-media freedom mindset prevalent in the political leadership of the country.
In the leaked telephonic voice conversation, the two PML-N leaders can be heard using derogatory language against veteran journalists, Hasan Nisar, Irshad Bhatti and Mazhar Abbas. In the clip, PML-N leader Pervaiz Rashid can allegedly be heard saying: “They have a programme ‘Score Card’ [on Geo News] where Hasan Nisar is included who abuses us [PML-N] a lot.”
At this, Maryam allegedly says that anchorperson Irshad Bhatti also appears on the show, to which Rashid responds that Bhatti too “talks very vulgarly”. The two then allegedly speak about veteran journalist Mazhar Abbas who, Rashid claims, is “tilted against us and spins [things] to make fun of us”.
For his part, Mazhar Abbas, sarcastically thanked the PML-N leaders in a tweet posted on Tuesday saying, “I am proud of my journalism and stand by my comments [and] critical views. One should agree to disagree but ‘zaban apni apni’ (to each their own).”
“Just for the record Pervaiz sb, its Report Card not Score Card,” he added.
In a shocking move, towards the end of the clip, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz can be heard issuing instructions to some undisclosed person that a pair of baskets that, “former prime minister Nawaz Sharif brought from Azerbaijan should be sent to journalists Nusrat Javeed and Rana Jawad.”
The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) expressed alarm over the language used in the leaked audio and condemned the views expressed by the PML-N leadership.
In a statement issued by AEMEND, any disrespect for working journalists was categorically rejected. It added that the association believed in independence of media and that all political parties should desist from trying to dictate media on internal decisions of hiring and guests invited in programmes.
Reacting to the audio leak, the government spokespersons expressed sympathy with the media fraternity and condemned the abusive language used by the PML-N leaders.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication, Dr Shahbaz Gill while addressing a press conference stated that the PML-N leadership not only used derogatory language for senior journalists but also stopped government advertisements to various TV channels. Similar language was also used for media persons by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N lawmaker Rana Sanaullah, he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the state minister for information Farrukh Habib lambasted the PML-N leadership for its efforts to curb media freedom.
In a separate but related development, the journalist fraternity of Rawalpindi and Islamabad met at the National Press Club to express concern over the possible indictment of journalists by the Islamabad High Court. The participants included senior journlaists, Talat Hussain, Mohammad Malick, Sami Ibrahim, Naseem Siddiqui, Shahid Maitla and Amir Ghauri.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants unanimously requested the esteemed court to show leniency towards senior journalist Ansar Abbasi in a case pertaining to the affidavit of former Gilgit-Baltistan chief judge Rana Shamim.
