Pakistani media mafia's abuses

By Dr Shahid Qureshi

Mafia groups have invested in media and hired shining journalist/media persons. By doing that they are using their network to influence the authorities and also rubbing shoulders with the so called elite of Pakistan. By doing that some of them are getting away with their basic responsibilities as employers. The government need publicity so mostly it side with the owners of the press and media groups.

Pakistani media evolved in the past few years as a result of realization that no war and no peace could be won without it? A society where level of respect is measured with nuisance value journalists are at the centre. In past rich and famous use to keep close links/friendships with poor middle or working class journalists both to avoid bad publicity and get good one. Some university/college lecturers choose to keep on foot in journalism and one in education.

The verbal abuse by Nazir Naji of a junior reporter Mohammad Ahem Noorani of The News Islamabad is just a tip of the iceberg of the plight of media in Pakistan. A senior drunk with arrogance and power scolded a new comer for just asking legitimate questions. These old gurus blew trumpets of who ever in power are now enjoying the perks and those young like Ansar Abbasi, Ahmed Noorani, and Kashif Abbasi and others who say what they mean and not the otherwise are being criticised for their principle stands?

The access/powers a journalist has with empty pockets in Pakistan is open to abuse? This access attracts people to become journalists even work free with the view that these losses would be recovered in future. I am not sure medic cum anchor Dr Shahid Masood has recovered his losses of his voluntary/free work at ARY TV in London? The gold dealers are close to President Zardari and believe in live and let live at all cost…

According to senior journalist those who arrived with a 'trunk' (suitcase made with iron) in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad are millionaires and own big media groups. These poverty stricken gurus never did anything for the new comers and become abusers themselves?

In December 2008 a young Pakistani TV journalist committed suicide due to the non payment of his salary for months and rude behaviour of Imtinan Shahid of Channel5 of Khabrain Group. The suicide of Mohammed Azam a Pakistani TV Channel-5 journalist shows the amount of pressures and constant war of survival in the journalistic community in Pakistan. They are mostly being abused by their own former colleagues who become of owners of media groups after working for others. Obviously they know the ticks of the trade?

Media in Pakistan has become like family business where sons, daughters and daughter in laws can have fast track promotions as editors or chief editors, CEOs and a place in higher media bodies. That is how abuse of media and journalism starts? Those who have spent years studying media in the universities are being criticised or assessed by these people who don't have a clue about the profession? It's like direct appointment without training as General, which normally takes 30 yeas and few dozen exams and interviews.

A senior journalist received a phone call from Zia Shahid asking to work for his English newspaper 'The Post' in London. His son late Ednan Shahid send him a contract with a condition that, 'Pakistani labour laws would be applicable while he would be working and living in London. He wanted him to function under Pakistani laws and not British in London. The worst of all is they did not pay the agreed amount at all.

Wajahat Ali Khan current acting President of Pakistan journalists Association United Kingdom left GEO Television due to non payments of salary for many months. His section in charge Iftikhar Qaisar was reassuring him that one day you will be paid. I am not sure if he himself is getting paid as probably he himself is not regular employee of the company? In this age of emails and fax his case for payments is under consideration for months and his dues have not been cleared yet. These so called media giants are the worst perpetrators of the rights of the media and journalists. Pakistani journalists based abroad must be provided full support like many other countries. No doubt what these journalists are doing money can't buy but it is an essential for the survival in the most expansive cities in the world so they could focus on media activities?

Huma Ali a senior journalist based in Islamabad told me that 'some media groups are hiring/sub contracting journalists through third companies for years to avoid labour laws and are depriving them from their legal rights'.

We have to find a solution of the problem and support each other. Media in Pakistan has been hijacked by organised mafia gangs who are using it for their protection? It is difficult to differentiate between true journalists, pen pushers and fakes since they have joined the ranks. Now any one can become a journalist by self certifying but it does not work in practice?

Those groups avoiding labour laws by issuing short term contract letters for years should be told to stop that practice and legislation should be introduced to protect rights of journalists. There should be a clear and transparent policy of internship for the training and education of young journalists to avoid future suicides and exploitations.

Government of Pakistan should ask for the complete list of full time and temporary employees, their duration of service, of all print and electronic media groups. Ministry of Information can easily do that and should accredit only if a legal contract from the employers represented and company hired is the same.

When I asked President Musharraf in London to do something for the rights of the journalists. He said, 'they should come on the road'. He said, 'journalists in Pakistan are getting Rs50,000. per month'. The real question is how many are getting Rs.50,000 a month? Though some are getting paid in US$ but others are not getting paid at all.

(Dr Shahid Qureshi is award wining journalist and writer on foreign policy & security based in London)