The 'big' list is out

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 22 April 2013

A list revealing journalists who benefited from a secret fund was published by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. This follows a petition by senior journalists requesting an inquiry into government-funded gifts.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: On the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a list of journalists who benefitted from Information Ministry’s secret fund was made public Monday.

The list published on the Supreme Court website includes several big names, who were given money by the PPP-led government from July 2011 to September 2012.

The Supreme Court ordered making the list public during a hearing of a petition filed by senior journalists Hamid Mir and Absar Alam in July last year. The two had requested that the matter be probed as to who was given money and gifts by the government in 2011-2012.

In January, the Supreme Court named retired judge Nasir Aslam Zahid and former Information Minister Javed Jabbar as members of a commission to decide terms of reference for the media.

The commission was mandated to investigate corruption allegations against journalists; inquire the source of income of television channel owners, advertising agencies and anchorpersons; give recommendations on content regulation and develop a code of conduct for the media.

The SC had earlier frozen funds of the information ministry.

KEY POINTS:

• Supreme Court ordered the release of a list of journalists receiving funds.
• The list covers funds distributed from July 2011 to September 2012.
• Petition filed by journalists Hamid Mir and Absar Alam prompted the investigation.
• A commission was formed to probe corruption allegations in the media.
• Funds from the Information Ministry were previously frozen.