Pakistan, Politics

No contradiction when it comes to Gen. Kiyani

1 Comment

by Adnan Farooq

One expression of hegemony that in Antonio Gramsci’s view sustains rulers in power, is self-censorship practiced by mainstream media professionals. Here is a case in point:

Noted Geo-anchorperson and Jang-columnist, Hamid Mir, in his column last week (November 04) titled “Yeh Nawaz Sharif Bhi Kehtay Thay” claims that on September 14, 1999, he informed Nazir Naji to convey to the then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, that his government would be shown the doors if he did not mend his ways and stopped interfering with the state institutions.

One wonders if Mr. Hamid Mir had access to such sensitive information, why he kept it to himself or only shared it with Nazir Naji. Was Nazir Naji the only person in Pakistan who could save the democratic system by merely sharing it with Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Mr. Mir asserts in his column that he mentioned two advisors to Mian Nawaz Sharif and criticized his government policies during a live PTV talk show hosted by the late Khalil Malik. The show was ‘fortunately was being watched’ by Mian Shahbaz Sharif. He received a call from Mian Shahbaz Sharif soon after the PTV talk show was hooked off.

If one goes by journalistic ethics, Mr. Mir should have shared this information with the peoples of Pakistan in the same columns of his newspaper so that people and civil society could be mobilized to pre-empt unscrupulous General Pervez Musharraf from overthrowing an elected government and pushing the country in the throes of dictatorship for almost a decade. It certainly involved risks. But to champion democracy when Musharraf’s boat was about to sink, is nothing to boast about. …

Read more : View Point

One thought on “No contradiction when it comes to Gen. Kiyani”

  1. Mr.Adnan Farooq,

    I also read the column of Hamid Mir.He actually responded a column written by Nazir Naji.Unfortunately you tried to establish that Hamid Mir violated some journalistic ethics which is not true.Hamid Mir is an anchorperson from 8 years but he is a journalist from alst 23 yeras(as he told Begum Nawazish Ali recently on Aaj TV).

    Old readers of Hamid Mir knows that he warned both Baenazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif number of times that they should not fight with each other because Army could exploit their differences.Hamid Mir lost his job in 1994 and in 1997,first because of Zardari and second time because of Nawaz Sharif.He performed his duty well but unfortunately our big leaders were not listening him.Hamid Mir also wrote in a previous column how Saifur Rehman attacked him in 1998.Read the columns of Hamid Mir in 1998 and 1999 in Daily Ausaf and Qaumi Akhbar Karachi,you will come to know that he was crying everyday that Army is about to take over but Nawaz Sharif never listened to him.

    I think instead of trying to teach him the journalistic ethics you should ask from Nawaz Sharif that why he ordered Saifur Rehman to attack Hamid Mir?

    Reply

By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although IAOJ does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.