Did Sethi do right?

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 27 March 2013 |  Steve Manuel

Najam Sethi has been appointed as the Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, leading to divided opinions among journalists and the media community. Concerns about his journalistic credibility and neutrality in politics have emerged as discussions intensify.

Summary

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Aapas ki Baat host, respected senior journalist, and former Daily Times Editor, Najam Sethi has agreed to take on the responsibilities of the Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister, the parliamentary committee of the Punjab Assembly, Rana Sanaullah announced late on Tuesday night.

It is the second time that Sethi has taken on a political assignment. In 1996 he served as a federal minister in the interim government of Malik Meraj Khalid.

On Tuesday, the six-member committee made its decision just hours before the midnight deadline. Justice Amer Raza (Retd), former bureaucrat Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed and Justice Zahid Husain (Retd) were the others taken into consideration.

The decision has sent ripples through the media industry and community of journalists. Some are happy that a man of Sethi's stature and standing has accepted the responsibility. Others are not quite sure or are downright suspicious of his intentions. It is believed to a great extent that Sethi has put his journalistic credibility on the line. Then again others opine this is erroneous and that Sethi is much bigger than the 'narrow-minded' perception some have of him.

TV channels have lost no time in picking up on what could turn out to be a heated debate. Rauf Klasara seemed quite excited in his Facebook post about the prospect and of course if one were to read down that post there are some sensible comments sprinkled amongst the mostly ignorant and spiteful diatribes.

The question remains though: should journalists accept such positions and how do they do so without compromising their professional oath to remain fair and unbiased?

It is an unmitigated fact that Sethi has been hammering Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party with unbridled gusto. As the caretaker Chief Minister will he be able to keep a lid on his enthusiasm?

Furthermore, while he will be the caretaker CM, will he put his duties as the host of Aapas Ki Baat on hold?

Let's not forget that Geo TV has a perceptible tilt towards right wing parties and especially the PML-N. Most of their anchors have been accused at one time or the other of being biased, in the pockets of financiers, the army or political parties such as the PML-N. Will such association have any bearing on what Sethi does?

A student from Islambad writes in: "This is a joke. It will only provide him an opportunity to go after his rival anchors!"

Lightheartedly as I regard that comment I would like to add that such thoughts are not isolated and that have only been made possible by the very public altercations TV anchors have frequently indulged in at whatever forum available the past couple of years and Sethi has been caught up in a few. He could have done differently.

"He should not call himself a journalist after this," another comment points out, "because his credibility will be on the line every time he writes or has an opinion on television. He has made a mistake."

Sethi is an intelligent man. Respected and well regarded and certainly a cut above most. A thinking man. He is said to be enterprising in the extreme and knows how to get out of tight corners.

The general opinion though, at this point in time, is that he's out on a limb.

Has he done right?

PS: The knives were already out late last night with TV channels other than Geo accusing Sethi of only agreeing to speak to Geo!!

KEY POINTS:

• Najam Sethi has accepted the role of Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab.
• This marks Sethi's second political appointment, the first being in 1996.
• Reactions from the media community are mixed, with skepticism about his journalistic integrity.
• Sethi has been critical of Imran Khan and the PTI, raising questions about fairness.
• There are concerns regarding his ability to balance journalism and political responsibilities.