Nusrat Javeed clarifies accepting gifts from politicians

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 3 years ago

ISLAMABAD—"I've been in journalism since 1975, and I've been fired 20 times. Why? I do not take dictation from anyone and do not compromise on my news and analysis," journalist Nusrat Javeed wrote in his Urdu column in Nawa-i-Waqt.

"There are certain traditions in our society that are an integral part of our culture and must be kept alive," he stated.

Citing the past, he said that prominent politicians like Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan (late) used to send mangoes to all his friends, politicians, and journalists every year. "I was new at the time, but he sent me too. But did my writings or journalism support them?" he questioned.

I have known Aftab Sherpao since student life. He was a minister in Pervez Musharraf's government, and I was one of the most reprimanded journalists of that time. I will present my defense if I have taken a plot from someone based on news or something else. And if I don't interact with politicians, where will I get the news?"

According to Javeed, sending fruit baskets, mango boxes, or cakes on Eid is part of our culture, and it does not affect the news of any journalist, nor should it be considered so.

Javeed's name featured in a leaked audio conversation between PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz and former Information Minister Pervez Rasheed. The audio clip concludes with instructions by Maryam to deliver gifts brought by her father and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from Azerbaijan to journalists Nusrat Javeed and Rana Jawad.

Photo: Twitter (@javeednusrat)