Freedom comes with responsibility and efforts by Hamid Mir and Absar Alam to restore credibility of our print and electronic media are a step in the right direction. When journalists get complimentary memberships of clubs like the controversial club built on land belonging to Pakistan Railways, eyebrows are raised, or they get expensive cars and SUVs free or at half market price, questions arise and it can be seen that there is a clear conflict of interest and gross financial irregularities.
Without an across-the-board self-scrutiny by the media, the fast eroding credibility will be dented beyond repair and harm the cause of democracy and freedom of expression in Pakistan. The assets acquired by prominent journalists and media house owners should be evaluated with their tax returns filed since they started their careers. A series of fixed interviews on electronic media or analysis and doctored reporting by our print media has exposed the black sheep within this vital fourth organ of state. From the likes of Maulana Mohd Ali Jauhar to Maulana Shaukat Ali and icons like Hameed Nizami, Ahmed Ali Khan, etc, we now have men who have used this platform to serve as paid lobbyists, spin doctors and/or middle-men for the corrupt ruling elite and even brokering sale deals of banks on behalf of foreign investors and local cartels fleecing consumers. A few have infiltrated the ranks of the land mafia by blackmailing landowners of their rented offices and residences to part with big chunk of their property in exchange for vacating rented premises. Scions of a few icons of our media, men who contributed to our freedom movement, are also involved in this mad rush to acquire assets through blackmailing and shady business deals including insider trading.
SHAHZAD KHALIL
Sialkot