JournalismPakistan.com | Published June 17, 2012 | Amal Mirza
Join our WhatsApp channelKARACHI: Within hours of the Malik Riaz “off air” video going viral on the net, the Dunya TV management sprang into action, summarily sacking Mubashar Lucqman, one of the anchors conducting the interview, and giving the other, Meher Bukhari, 24 hours to resign.
The implication was that she would be sacked if she did not resign.
Well, it’s well over 24 hours and Meher is holding on. Is it possible that she’s plain lucky, is more tenacious than Mubashar or knows more powerful people than he does?
And while Mubashar was summoned for an in-house inquiry, he tweeted as much; Meher seems to be getting away scot free. A day after the scandal broke she tried to clarify her position in her program. She offered this jewel: “I only did what any other journalist would have done.”
The implication in that sentence is admission of guilt. She put her foot in her mouth that belied her own advice to Mubashar in the staged interview with Malik Riaz. “Be professional,” she had told him.
Was Meher being professional when she tried to clarify her own position in regard to the interview and having allegedly accepted Rs50 lakh as a wedding gift from the property tycoon? It seemed more like an act of self-preservation; this from somebody who personified composure and confidence to the extent that it could be mistaken for cockiness.
But now comes the shocking part; a couple of powerful men have come to her rescue and in all probability will save her from getting sacked, thus compromising the Dunya management’s effort to distance themselves from the leaked interview. Once again influence will win over the truth.
As unbecoming as it is, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, a good friend, apparently sided with Meher, saying it was illegal and unconstitutional of the person who had leaked and posted the damaging interview. He said nothing of the contents within or the implication that it had been a staged interview.
The minister stressed that during breaks of live TV programs, politicians and journalists usually chatted and joked. This is because they know each other quite well.
Kaira backed Meher’s argument that usually questions are pre-decided with the guest to make him comfortable with the upcoming content. She said it was normal procedure.
If it is as she says the implication is clear… the interview does not have integrity because it is a contrived one and therefore an unprofessional act has been committed. As a so-called journalist she should know this.
To insist that she is right is making a mockery of the profession and all itstands for.
Likewise, PML-N stalwart Khawaja Mohammad Asif also defended Meher saying that although a nexus was apparent between Lucqman and Malik Riaz, Meher’s role did not fit the scenario.
He entirely bypassed the issue that Meher had been part of an interview that was staged and therefore dishonest.
The public may or may not be interested in knowing how much money she got and from whom, but they certainly do not like to be made to look like asses and that is something Meher has conveniently and selfishly decided not to take into consideration.
Her credibility is lost and she should leave it at that.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.