Who said what

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 June 2012

A leaked video from Dunya TV exposes controversial comments made by journalists regarding corruption and media ethics. The fallout raises critical issues in the Pakistani media landscape.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: It's all happening so rapidly that it’s hard to keep track of who said what. Ever since the leaked Dunya video of real estate tycoon Riaz Malik’s behind the scene chit-chat with anchors Mubashar Lucqman and Meher Bukhari became viral our readers have been barraging us questions about the interview, its fall out and what others have been saying after a list of 19 ‘corrupt’ journalists also found its way online. The list has added fuel to fire in an already blazing situation. So here we have it, a sort of genesis of who said what: Mubashar Lucqman: “Relax it’s just another interview.” Meher Bukhari: “Only you are doing the talking. I need some time as well.” Malik Riaz: “Lucqman is like family.” Mubashar Lucqman: “I’m going. You do the interview”. Meher Bukhari: “Be professional!” (She actually had the brass to say that!!) Meher Bukhari: “Say what you want…what question should we ask? It will appear as though it is planted…it is, but it shouldn’t appear it is.” Mubashar Lucqman: “Give me a villa like you have given Hamid Mir.” Mubshar Lucqman: “Don’t interrupt Malik Sahib, let him talk even if we go over time.” Malik Riaz: “Put your differences aside; this program is very important for me.” Meher Bukhari: “Do we try to clear our names?” Mubashar Lucqman: “We have to be careful about what to say.” Meher Bukhari: “We are not doing a program on the MQM”. Malik Riaz: “You ask me as to why I am involved in all the deals.” Dunya management: “You are fired.” Mubashar Lucqman: “I was pressured into doing this interview by Mian Amer Mehmood and Malik Riaz.” Meher Bukhari: “I would be lying if I said I did not do what any other journalist would have?” Meher Bukhari: “If I lie or if I have received a single penny or a single yard of any land from Malik Riaz, may Allah reveal His wrath upon me.” Naseem Zehra: “I quit.” Dunya management: “Who leaked the video?” A reader: “Who's paying Naseem Zehra’s expenses; she’s been in the US for months.” Talat Hussain: “This is a true test for the media in Pakistan. Integrity is at stake.” Nadia, Riaz’s PRO: “The list is fake and baseless.” Ayaz Amir: “He is the biggest wheeler-dealer this side of Suez.” (Malik Riaz). Kamran Khan: Nobody should question my integrity. I declare I have taken nothing from anybody. I suggest a commission be set up to look into my financial status.” Kamran Khan: “As media representatives, our heads are down in shame.” Kamran Khan: “I will leave this profession if proven guilty of bribery.” PFUJ: “Set up a commission to inquire into this list consisting of honest journalists.” PFUJ: “We should know the names of the people on the list” (!!!) PFUJ: “We will cast out the black sheep from our midst.” PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat: “The claims of Mr. Malik regarding the journalists are highly condemnable if not true. Hamid Mir: “I have not received any villa from Riaz. An inquiry should be ordered and Riaz should be asked to provide the list of the journalists he has given benefits to.” Hamid Mir: “It’s a planned conspiracy to damage the credibility of the judiciary and the media.” Nusrat Javed & Mushtaq Minhas: This is a conspiracy fabricated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) Media Cell. They are “Cyber-Bullies”. Nusrat Javed: I don’t need the police or the courts to help me. I will fight my own fight and deal with those people all by myself. Tehreek-i-Insaaf: “The PTI has nothing to do with the leaked list of journalists. The party respects senior journalists and has no interest in maligning their names.”

Supreme Court of Pakistan: “Chairman PEMRA should appear in court with the leaked video footage of Dunya TV.”

Supreme Court of Pakistan: “It is worth remembering that ultimately every person and every institution is the custodian of his/its own reputation and integrity. If we don’t guard our reputation the honorable people of Pakistan will be justified in pointing fingers at us. The same applies to all other institutions, including the media.”

Bilal Lakhani: “Express will not air an interview by Javed Chaudhary with Malik Riaz.”

PFUJ official: This is a ‘internal matter”. (IJF should butt out)

KEY POINTS:

• Controversial leaked video features Riaz Malik and journalists discussing sensitive topics.
• 19 journalists implicated in alleged corruption following the video release.
• Supreme Court demands the Chairman of PEMRA to produce the leaked video footage.