Amir Mateen questions Najam Sethi on Twitter

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 January 2017

Amir Mateen has publicly questioned Najam Sethi's remarks regarding media accountability on Twitter, linking to a blog from 1998. The discussion highlights past criticisms of Nawaz Sharif and the role of media in political affairs.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - Reacting to Najam Sethi’s assertion that courts do not have guts to handcuff and summon anchors for alleged defamation, Amir Mateen (pictured) Friday tweeted a link to a 1998 blog by Sethi where he harshly criticizes Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for corruption. 

Mateen, an anchor with 92 News wondered: “Why couldn't someone handcuff Najam Sethi who now suggests that why ain't journalists arrested for criticizing NS http://najamsethi.com/1998/10/02/.” 

In an earlier tweet he said: “How about you Najam making more lethal accusations about Hussain Nawaz on flats and asking why SC not taking notice,” referring to the same post.

Sethi, who was Punjab’s caretaker chief minister during the 2013 General Elections, complained about media in his January 2 program Aapas ki Baat on Geo TV. Saying that media created hype over Dawn Leaks, he added now TV anchors can create a scandal anytime. Talking about an anchor he did not name, Sethi said he repeated all questions and statements against the Prime Minister in the Panama case, but did not utter a word against Imran Khan, chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. “Media has completely gone haywire.”

As Muneeb Farooq, the program host, talked about black sheep in the media, Sehti said courts do not have guts to handcuff and summon those “black sheep”.

The blog on http://www.najamsethi.com/1998/10/02/ - Truth will out – quotes The Observer London’s cover story alleging the Sharif family owns flats in London. Sethi in his blog said: “Latest revelations by Rehman Malik, a former senior FIA officer, now show Mr Sharif out to be a plunderer at par with the likes of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari.”

He wrote: “The Sharifs have complained about The Observer’s misconduct to the Press Council of Britain. But it is revealing that their complaint does not say a single word of defense against the substantial charges leveld by The Observer — money laundering, front accounts, secret properties, offshore companies, the works.”

The January 2 Aapas ki Baat was criticized by Amir Liaquat Hussain on Bol TV in which he repeatedly called Sethi Chiri Baba, making fun of his source – the charia (sparrow).

KEY POINTS:

• Amir Mateen tweeted about Najam Sethi's media comments.
• Sethi criticized the media for creating hype over past scandals.
• Mateen referenced a 1998 blog where Sethi accused Nawaz Sharif of corruption.
• Sethi defended against journalists' criticisms while suggesting legal action against some.
• The media's influence on Pakistani politics remains a contentious issue.