PFUJ inquiry panel termed a 'joke'

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 17 June 2012

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has formed a committee to investigate 19 journalists implicated in a corruption scandal. However, many in the media are skeptical about the panel's credibility.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Friday set up a three-man committee to investigate the ‘corrupt journalists’ mentioned in the ‘List of 19’ that also made it on to the Internet the same day the leaked video scandal broke.

The ‘List of 19’, which is transcribed on a Bahria Town letterhead, names top journalists and anchors who allegedly accepted gifts, land and money worth millions from Bahria Town tycoon Malik Riaz.

PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat had announced Friday the committee to investigate the list has APNEC Chairman Nasir Naqvi, PFUJ Secretary General Mohammed Amin Yousaf and senior journalist Nasir Zaidi of the Zia era flogging case.

The committee is to submit its report in the next meeting of the Federal Executive Council of the PFUJ.

However, the many journalists have greeted the setting up of the committee with cynicism and mirth. “This is a joke,” a senior reporter of an Urdu daily remarked, “Nobody will believe their findings. Nasir Zaidi is the only one we have some respect for. One of them is not a journalist and is known for his dirty deals and the other is an office holder of a body that itself has no control over journalists and is steeped in politics and corruption.”

“They will only hide what they can and benefit where and how they can,” a reporter with a news channel added. “Nasir Naqvi is not a journalist but a drama and TV artiste. Furthermore, his claim that he is the Chairman of APNEC is contentious because there are two factions in APNEC and he heads one. He made millions off the Lahore Press Club project.”

Others were of the opinion the PFUJ had no standing and that perhaps journalists would accept the findings into the current scandal and the ‘List of 19’ if the country’s top court were to set up a committee in collaboration with respected  journalists like Nasir Zaidi.

“For long the PFUJ elections have been a sham. It is an un-representative body propped up by fake journalists who only appear at election time. We cannot let them take responsibility for looking into such a grave matter,” the reporter added.
 

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ establishes a three-member committee for investigation
• Committee includes controversial figures, raising doubts about its integrity
• Many journalists consider the inquiry as a joke
• Criticism of the PFUJ's authority and credibility
• Call for an independent investigation by the judiciary and respected journalists