Thickening pal of gloom on Pakistani journalism

The history of Pakistan’s journalism is witness to the harsh reality that the concept of Lifafa journalism was introduced by the head of one of the leading political parties of Pakistan, who is teaching morality and high values to his peers for the last two decades

A big chunk of the Pakistani journalists are on the payroll of different agencies or political parties, toeing their lines in their writings and television discussion programmes in order to protect the interests of their ‘pay masters’, well-placed sources have revealed.

These so-called towering personalities of Pakistani journalism regularly receive ‘remuneration in cash or kind for their invaluable services,’ either in person or it is handed over to them by agencies staffers or political workers at their homes or desired places in the garb of reports or documents.

Some of these journalists on the payroll of agencies and political parties, sources say, belonged to very poor families but now they have assets worth over millions of rupees and business concerns and are living a very luxurious life in posh localities of Pakistan’s metropolitan cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

Divulging about the monetary and other benefits dished out by various agencies and political parties to media persons, sources said that agencies usually have secret funds worth millions of rupees and same is the case with political parties, which is dished out to the journalists.

“It is an open secret that the agencies and political parties use these journalists as pawns in their murky games and they (journalists) become their stooges for a few bucks,” sources maintained.

Sources privy to political echelons of Pakistan reveal that the ruling clique, as a political party or in individual positions, dole out huge sums of money to beat reporters on monthly basis in abovementioned major cities of Pakistan.

“A confidant of one of the heads of the political parties visits Lahore every month. He stays in a hotel and individually calls in concerned beat reporters in his room to hand them over the reward for their services for the cause of the political party,” says a Lahore-based political correspondent of one of Pakistan’s leading English newspapers.

The same correspondent was approached by the political party’s provincial office-bearers as well as those maneuvering media contents in print and electronic while sitting in the Federal capital of Pakistan but the gentleman simply refused to sell his pen for the unmatched favours offered to him.

He said that so-called senior and respected correspondents among journalists fraternity serving in mainstream newspapers and television channels over the years receive ‘monthly stipend’ of Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 50,000 for their unparalleled services for the cause of the particular political party ruling the roost in the country since decades. He said the politicians throw exclusive dance and drink parties for beat reporters and one of the ministers of the defunct Punjab cabinet and currently on opposition benches is known for such bashes for journalists.

The ugly face of Pakistan’s journalism is that the media tycoons are well aware of these black sheep in their offices over the years but because they themselves get their wrong deeds done through these political correspondents, hence they are hands and gloves with each other in this kind of loot and plunder.

The history of Pakistan’s journalism is witness to the harsh reality that the concept of Lifafa journalism was introduced by the head of one of the leading political parties of Pakistan, who is teaching morality and high values to his peers for the last two decades. The same towering political personality has reportedly got purchased luxurious flats to at least six ‘leading television anchors’ in Dubai so that they continue beating drum of his popularity in their pathetic programs.

But now the trend has changed and almost all the political parties, barring few, are in the race to beat each other to have contents in print and electronic media in their favours through offering bribe in cash and kind to the journalists.

Forget other malpractices, the moral bankruptcy of Pakistani journalism can be gauged from the fact that some of the well-off and well-connected journalists have ‘taken on lease for 99 years’ on nominal annual rent several Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) flats in the heart of the city. The generosity has been shown by the Chairman Asif Hashmi.

One of the editors of a Lahore-based daily, who is regarded as a pioneer of yellow journalism in Pakistan, has reportedly got two flats in the names of his personal staff on Lawrence Road. Likewise, while another editor of an Urdu daily who is a self-proclaimed think-tank, has also got two flats in the name of his Personal Assistant and another staffer.

Not lagging behind is another so-called leading editor of an Urdu daily in Lahore while also hosting a talk show on state-run PTV channel has got allotted a flat in the name of reporting section staffer namely Muhammad Amin. One of the political beat reporters of Daily Jang Lahore has got allotted one flat in his own name and another in his brother’s name while one of the senior reporters of Daily Waqt has got one flat in his own name and other in his wife’s name.

Another editor and a senior reporter of two different Urdu dailies have got EPTB flats while a Dunya News (television) reporter who previously used to work in very small news agency and a political beat reporter working in Daily The News have been allotted flats in Misri Shah.

A big gun of Express News Islamabad is on the regular payroll of two mighty secret agencies of Pakistan. Covering the beat of political parties, he is so well-connected in the political circles that he gets hefty ‘salary’ from a veteran politician who is considered to be an authority in making or breaking political alliances in the country. At the time of joining the journalism profession, sources say that the journalists under discussion had meager resources to make both ends meet. But now he owns a nine-bed luxurious dwelling in a posh locality in Islamabad and his children study in one of the costliest schools in the Federal capital.

One of the most veteran reporters of Daily Nawa-e-Waqt Islamabad, which is dubbed as the custodian of ideology of Pakistan by its Chief Editor Majeed Nizami, is on the payroll of three powerful politicians at the same time. This ‘veteran journalist’ remained unchallenged office bearer of Rawalpindi/Islamabad Press Club over decades, carries the stigma of getting monetary benefits from a powerful ruling party’s Federal minister, one of the most vocal opponent of current ruling dispensation and a veteran politician of the Punjab who was one of the blue eyed boys of the self-exiled General Musharraf.

The host of a Geo television’s discussion show with special focus on South Asian region has been planted by one of the top secret agencies of Pakistan. Closely related to the leader of the Operation Midnight Jackal, Major Amir, this journalist had the experience of working in vernacular press but soon after getting connected with spy agency’s sleuths, he has not only got himself well-placed in the mainstream media but also has become filthy rich as compared to his peers in a short span.

A producer specially assigned the task of covering the Afghan war has also been planted in Geo Television Islamabad by one of the leading spy agencies of Pakistan. Though usually remaining behind the screen, this media person is also getting huge monetary benefits from the spy agency for toeing their lines in the airing of various discussion programmes and documentaries, with particular focus on Afghanistan. Another Geo News correspondent covering the Taliban activities and producing special reports for a popular talk show for the same network is on the payroll of spy agency sleuths.

One of the most senior reporters working since generations in Daily Jang Rawalpindi is also getting monetary benefits from one of the top spy agencies of Pakistan. This so-called veteran media person is also on the payroll of the ruling dispensation and is always the part of the Prime Minister’s entourage on foreign visits.

A senior crime reporter in Aaj News Islamabad is on the payroll of a secret agency. He is also getting regular ‘salary’ from a political outfit for guarding their interests.

A Waqt News Islamabad correspondent covering religious outfits; and two Express News Islamabad correspondents covering the beats of Northern Areas, PML (N), and Saudi Embassy and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Kashmir Affairs are on the payroll of one of the top spy agencies of Pakistan.

One of the senior political reporters in ARY News Islamabad is on the payroll of a spy agency and religious political party. Likewise, one of the top officials of Independent News Pakistan is involved in the dirty business of getting money from a spy agency and a political party.

What to say of moral, financial and related corruption, the custodians of the so-called fourth pillar of the state are not afraid of deceiving God Almighty by performing Hajj on the taxpayers’ money. Having more than enough financial resources, over 200 journalists and their families performed Hajj on the taxpayer’s money last year. How ironic it is the monthly income of some of these state-sponsored Hajj beneficiaries’ was double of the total Hajj expenses.

Only Dawn News television channel has dared to expose these Rehmani Hujjaj, because they were accommodated by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik hence the term, in its programme titled “Apna Graiban” conducted by its staffer Matiullah Jaan. Almost all the Rehmani Hujjaj approached by Matiullah Jaan came up with one or another excuse or claimed that they did not know that they were performing Hajj on taxpayers’ money. How ridiculous it is.

There is no dearth of journalists in Pakistan who have benefited from the state generosity in the form of plots or occupation of official accommodations through their influence. From editors, top writers and columnists in the print media and owners, anchors and reporters in television channels have deemed it their birth right to receive plots and other fringe benefits from governments and political parties, irrespective of the fact whether it is alms or taxpayers’ money.

A senior anchor person and veteran journalists when contacted said: “Media of any country is reflection of that country. It shows how persons behave and live in the country. The way of expressing news, way of talking of politicians in political debates and discussions shows the behavior of the people of that country.

Although media’s responsibility is to spread true stories but media should be careful in this regard. They have to adopt such a way in which they could aware public without impacting negatively their mindsets.” He said unfortunately the journalists have been indulging in malpractices at the stake of their profession.

Besides shaping public opinion, he said the media effects peoples’ perception and prioritizes their thinking about national and international issues. “But in a society infested by corruption, social and economic injustice, how can we expect to have journalists of integrity and honesty,” he concluded.

Adnan Farooq did his Masters in Political Science and has worked with daily The Nation, Lahore and daily Jang, Lahore. He has also volunteered for Milieudefensie, Amsterdam. Friends of the earth, Europe, on environmental issues. He has been working with ON FILE, an Amsterdam-based publication run by journalists from all around the world. He studied Conflict Resolution at University of Amsterdam and is living in Paris. He is the editor.