Nusrat foresees restrictions on media

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 18 June 2012

Veteran journalist Nusrat Javed anticipates imminent media restrictions from the government. Concerns grow over the integrity of journalists and their accountability amid rising criticism.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Veteran journalist and television anchor Nusrat Javed believes restrictions on media are to be slapped soon by the government because the rulers do not like truth being highlighted.

Speaking on Geo TV’s Capital Talk program, he said: “Media will be hanged through PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) and this will be done sooner than later.” Nusrat features on a ‘List of 19’ television anchors allegedly given cash, land and other favors by property magnate Malik Riaz.

The list surfaced the day Dunya TV ran a pre-planned interview with Riaz, the off-air footage of which went viral on the Internet leaving the media fraternity shocked. Pervez Shaukat, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) who was also on the program was critical of television talk show hosts.

“Most of them are not journalists and if they have done corruption, they must be held accountable.” He pointed out the highly-paid anchors had never taken up issues and problems facing the ‘common journalists’ “but each time they (the anchors) get stuck themselves, they turn to us.” The PFUJ last week constituted a three-man committee to probe allegations of corruption against the TV anchors.

But the inquiry panel headed by APNEC Chairman Nasir Naqvi has already drawn criticism with people questioning its mandate and saying no one would believe its findings. Meanwhile, Sumsum Bukhari, State Minister for Information said categorically on the program hosted by Hamid Mir, there would be no ban on the media. Hamid’s name is also on the ‘List of 19’.

Ahsan Iqbal, Deputy Secretary General of PML-N said there had been a proliferation in the media. “It is a race for ratings where good news is no news.” He suggested the media have their own code of ethics. Farooq Faisal Khan, President of National Press Club, Islamabad said they would not take any ban on media lying down.

“We have stood up against such bans previously and would do so again if the government has any such plans.”