A list of 19 journalists allegedly bribed by Malik Riaz
Posted on Jun 15, 2012 | 55 comments
Courtesy Aaj News
By: Farrukh Shabbir
A record of payments allegedly made to 19 senior-journalists of Pakistan, by the Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz has surfaced on the social networking site Twitter, Aaj News reported. The list includes “nationalists”, “liberals”, and “fundos”. GEO takes the prize with the largest number of names followed by Dunya News.
Renowned names of various news television anchors and journalists like Dr. Shahid Masood, Najam Sethi, Kamran Khan, Nusrat Javed, Meher Bokhari, Mubasher Lucman, Hamid Mir, Javed Chaudhry, Sana Bucha, Sohail Waraich and Asma Shirazi among a few others, are present in the lists below.
An account of favors given to these journalists in shapes of money, cars and property etc is recorded in these trademarked letterheads of Bahria Town.
June 15, 2012
They preach sermons of morality to us day and night. What a filthy double face they have.I wish they are thoroughly investigated,if proved guilty then banned on public forums for ever and sent to jail to spend their rest of life in obscurity because they are too much used to stay in lime light .
With this breaking news why they are not now playing Indian songs as bank ground music as they used to taunt others.
Now whom should we trust which is gone for ever.
June 17, 2012
Are we not forgetting something! Islamic principle is that when you hear a news, first check its authenticity. Have we gone through this requirement yet to "establish" that the men and women listed are really corrupt or are we streeaming down in the river of gossips and conspiracies? Just think over it. Thanks.June 18, 2012
My dear friend islamic principle to wahan apply hota ha jahan islamic goverment ho ya system ho ya jahan log islam ko follow karein. dosri baat authenticity ka to tab hi pata chal sakta ha jab offical inquiry ho lekin hamari goverment hi itni corrupt ha ke uss pe kohi barosa nahi kar sakta. in fact kohi adaara nahi including Judiciary jo corrupt na ho to esey mein easy way yahi ha ke ye joo journalists hein inn ke attitude ko dekha jahey. ye journalists program kessey kartey hein, kis tara ki soch build up kartey hein and overall in ka rehan sehan kesa ha. mein manta ho ke ye criteria 100% correct nahi ha lekin 80% correct ha.mera matlab ha iss criteria se app 80% correct aandaza laga saktey hein kisi bi sahafi ke barey mein ke wo corrupt hoo sakta ha ya nahi. iss criteria se dekho to listed journalists ki majority hi corrupt lagti ha.
June 18, 2012
I agree with the response of Mr. Mohammad.
April 30, 2013
How does aftab Iqbal justify his farmhouse and Toyotacruiser? Hamid Mir his crores? Mubashar Luqman his private aircraft? These criminal bhooka nangas have done done very well for themselves.
June 19, 2012
Well, thee messengers have made their countrymen BIG FOOL so for. NEVER WAIST YOU TIME IN LISTENING TO THESE. I was thinking JAVED CHAUHDRY was one of the honest journalists but now?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I DO NOT HAVE WORDS TO DESCRIBE.
Some of them may be innocent (not necessarily), but I think look at the columns written by some of these HIGHLIGHTED journalists in favor of MALIK RIAZ and their supportive talk shows,then minds automatically admits there is something wrong with these white collars………….
June 15, 2012
These documents apear to be fake. looks like they have been planted to discredit pakistani journalists!!
June 15, 2012
According to Hamid Mir, the list is fake but there are journalists who received benefits or money from Malik Riaz. Well then who are those?
June 17, 2012
The list is not credible because there are names who we know did not receive any favors from Riaz Malik or anybody else. To find out who received favors from anybody, well, frankly speaking, graft is nothing new in Pakistan, and has been offered and accepted by many people–not just journalists–from even before Riaz Malik or Farrukh Siddiqui were born. Since there is no credible list of corrupt journalists available presently, should we just go ahead and accept whatever is available? Just because food is not there, are we willing to eat shit?
June 17, 2012
Imran saheb, why get emotional? What is the relevance of when or where I was born. What I am supposed to think when one prominent anchor Hamid Mir says my audience knows who is on the take? Another character Mubasher Lucman is caught off-camera telling Malik Riaz,”Give me a villa like you have given to Hamid.” Owner of TV One promotes Zaid Hamid (a known ISI protege)… it is all over the place. Why media is feeling the heat now? It did not spare anyone!
June 30, 2012
I am not being emotional. But the fact is that more money is being doled out to media owner than you think. The list is a hoax, but that does not mean that none of the people mentioned in it are corrupt. Of course, there are black sheep, but you cannot compare Mazhar Abbas with Mubashir Lucman.
And you became emotional for my saying that “graft is nothing new in Pakistan, and has been offered and accepted by many people–not just journalists–from even before Riaz Malik or Farrukh Siddiqui were born”. Let us add to it, from even before I was born. Does that satisfy your ego?
Media business is bad, because you offer an essential service but the real intention is to make big money, promote vested interests, and hoodwink people. I dont believe in media business, but journalism is different. People like you and Lucman (though you two may be very different types) are not journalists, so you would not understand a lot of things I am saying.
All I am saying now is that we should not be taken for a ride because there is some list. We have seen several lists by the vested interests, lists that had no signatures because they contained certain lies that no body wanted to take responsibility of. Nowadays, they mix truth with lies so that you do not know the difference. Our job, as professionals in journalism, is to see that difference and show it to you in a credible way.
As for what Aamir Mughal of chagataikhan.blogspot has written about me. I was not fired. I had resigned and gone to join ARY. Aamir himself was working for Sultan Lakhani before he was fired. He was fired because Sultan Lakhani found out that he was the same ex-IB man who had been bringing graft money to him. This is Aamir’s credibility.
As for mine, Geo did file criminal charges against me (theft or embezzlement was NOT among them), but people who know me also know that the charges were fabricated and inspired by a certain lobby inside that organization. The Geo owners too have shown that understanding now. That is the reason why I could go to Geo offices several times ever since those charges were filed, and was not arrested. I am NOT on bail.
June 17, 2012
According to this blog http://chagataikhan.blogspot.sg/2011/07/lie-with-express-news-pakistan.html Imran Shirvanee was fired from GEO for theft. He works for Express News group whose Editor-in-Chief Sultan Lakhani was arrested in 2000 on criminal charges of bank fraud, default, smuggling, etc. He allegedly made a deal with Musharraf and was let off
June 19, 2012
Dont you think that Malik Rehman is not alone. May I point out that Jehanzeb Khanzada along with Mubashir Luqman is the permanent recipeint of money from MQM. Both and another maniac doctor (I usually forget the name of such lowly creature) who appear on ARY was fired from ARY but was replaced on job following a phone call of Altaf Bhai. Nobody is talking about these bastards and you are just making shiit about those who are not willing to fell prey to MQM blackmailing. Interesting naaaa
July 1, 2012
Dear Mr Farrukh Siddiqui, Please ask Mr. Imran Shirvanee to provide evidence that I brought Graft Money to Sultan Lakhani. Also ask him as to why he was imprisoned in Dubai, UAE.
July 1, 2012
Dear Farrukh Sahab,
Kindly ask as to why Female employees of Express News complained of Sexual Harassment at the hands of Mr. Imran Shirvanee, I am witness to it and brought this in the knowledge of Karamullah Ghumro, Salman Lalani and others in Express News.
July 1, 2012
No question of ego. On this blog, we keep our discussion impersonal. This article was reproduced from Aaj TV and it was clearly indicated. We have published all comments and views without editing or censor. We believe in freedom of expression. Hope you are satisfied your full response is being published.
P.S. As far my personal opinion, the list is fake but people like Kamran Khan and Mubasher ARE corrupt.Yes they are people like Mazhar Abbas who have worked for freedom of expression against all governments.
July 1, 2012
Dear Mr. Farrukh Sahab,
Kindly ask if I was bringing Graft Money (Imran Shirvanee didn’t provide any incriminating proof) then why the hell he joined Express News and even after my resignation (I was not sacked but resigned which is clearly mentioned with dates and email exchange with Express News admin and now part of the record)
July 1, 2012
Don’t be mistaken about Mr. Mazhar Abbas and his brothers
read it’s history and corroborated with Mr. Mazhar Abbas own pen:) Mr. Mazhar Abbas (PFUJ) Conveniently Forgets the Ugly Role of Jang Group and GEO TV in Media Gate – Since Mr. Mazhar Abbas brother Azhar Abbas is a Director in GEO TV therefore he conveniently forgets to mention the Ugly Role of Jang Group and GEO TV in maligning the Supreme Judiciary of Pakistan – Keep it up Mr. Mazhar, earlier you were supporting no good Dr Shahid Masood while forgetting his Ugly Role in Dr Shazia Khalid Rape Case. Mr. Mazhar Abbas while blaming others for switching TV Channels for better pay package has completely rather conveniently forgotten the conduct of his own self (Mazhar Abbas also frequently swith TV Channels )of his own brother Azhar Abbas who also switched his job when he went to become Director of Dawn News in 2007 and what was more shameful that Azhar Abbas and Hameed Haroon invited a Military Dictator i.e. General Perevez Musharraf to inaugurate Dawn News in May 2007 right after blaming General Pervez Musharraf for the Bloody Carnage of 12 May 2007 wherein more than 40 innocent persons lost their lives. If I remember correctly, Mr Mazhar Abbas had also invited ISPR Chief to the Karachi Press Club during the Marital Law of General Pervez Musharraf http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2012/06/media-gate-of-jang-group-geo-tv.html
June 15, 2012
i think all these people are corrupt,they only make noises to mint more and more money like agents of veg,fruit markets
June 16, 2012
Such black sheeps are found all over the world. Pakistan is also no exception.
June 18, 2012
app 100% correct ho. yar pakistan shayad duniya ka wahid mulk ha jahan ke journalists apni country ko kud badnam kartey hein jis se samaney pata chalta ha ke wo corrupt hein.corruption har jaga ha lekin ek limit ke under ho ti ha lekin hamarey haan to kohi limit nahi uar iss ki waja ha system. jab tak ye system chaleney waley chorahoon pe latkahey nahi jahein gey tab tak kuch nahi ho sakta. mujey samaj nahi ati ke hum log itney bewakoof kyon hein strike karteey hein bijli aur gas ke masley par aur jalatey hein apni hi dukanoon aur makanoon ko. agar jalana hi ha to apney MNA aur MPA ke ghar aur business property ko jalaho balkey uss ko bich sarak halal karo including whole family. yakeen karo sirf do teen MNAs aur MPAs marey gey to zardi aur nawaz sharif pakistan chor ke baag jahein gey. corruption karney wallon ke saat yahi saalook karo to dinoon mein corruption katam ho gahey gi lekin masla wahi ke karey koon hum log itney perishan hein mehngahi ha bijli nahi gas nahi har cheez mmengi ha lekin hum begairat log ssawahey apni property ko jaalenaey ke kuch nahi kartey aur election aney paar phir uni kooton ko vote daltey hein
June 19, 2012
What about Jehanzeb Khanzada, and fake Doctor (ARY) along with Mubashir Luqman who recieves money from MQM??? and they have been placed with the node of nine zero in these channels…. who is behind these vultures????
June 16, 2012
iss hamam mai ye sab nangy hain….i just feel 4 Nusrat Javeed i don’t think he wiil b in these currupt journilist…kis munt se Kamran Khan govt k khilaaf roz bolta tha…pehle apne girebaan jhankain…we all r currupt as a nation!!so sad
June 19, 2012
Mr Siaal, you may be a corrupt man but dont abuse the whole nation. Its people like who takes pleasure in abusing the nation.
June 16, 2012
This is very bad news for me, because some of mentioned journalists are very brave and honest but???
Allah helps our country and people of our country because from president, prime minster, chief justices, all corrupt
June 16, 2012
The expose has done a great damage on the very credibility of Pakistan as a nation. Since GEO takes the prize with the largest number of names followed by Dunya News, the tainted jounalists should appear before the nation on these two TV channels for either rebuttal or gracefull acceptance and say thus far and no further. This will also neutralise deep cospiracy, if any, to discredit and weaken the very moral fabric of Pakistan which is on the brink of total failure both as state ans as nation.
June 16, 2012
I don’t see these papers have any value. Anyone can print or even steal such stationary item from any of Bahria town office and simply print the list as desired. Whats the credibility of this document? no one mentioned name, no sign, no date etc. Who cares if the bank account references given in these papers are geniune or not!!
June 16, 2012
Amid admissions of journalists receiving favours/money by even well known anchors such as Hamid Mir and Talat Hussain, it is important to puruse these allegations. This paper may or may not be genuine but that there is a lot of corruption in the media is a fact.. remember Mehran Gate?
June 19, 2012
Mr Ali Salim, there is no allegation of receiving money against Talat Hussain. You should be carefull while speaking on this issue.
June 17, 2012
EFFECTS AT SIMPLE PAKISTANI:- a simple pakistani is at total loss at the reading in depth the ‘list’, for there are such names whose uttered word was taken ‘truth’ – that simple pakistani now at disarray while reading/viewing their set of program – God helps that ‘simple pakistani’.
July 25, 2012
why no explanation – no denials, no word………………….
June 17, 2012
Actually as a nation we like controversies. I don’t defend any journalist inside and outside this list. There are two things for us as eye opener. Firstly we are relying on somebody’s information who is proved lier and known for destabilization, a contractor Malik Riaz. Secondly this is the beauty of freedom of media “without accountability” creating confusion in everrbody’s mind serving someone purpose.
June 19, 2012
good
June 17, 2012
Well, am unable to beleive this but am sure something must be wrong….I was very impressed with few journalists of them but now am confused….Meher and Hassan Nisar, you both need to clearfy things otherwise, we will be thinking deferently then before….
June 18, 2012
If the above mentioned journalists are really involved in any such crime then it is a moment of a shame for them and their families and very unfortunate for the whole nation….. but yet i guess this may be some sort of a dirty game by the government and her handmade stupids……
June 18, 2012
Lets appreciate those journalist & anchors whose names are not appearing in this list.They are great who are not on the list. You know where there is smoke there is possibility of fire. The way they are keeping themselves and the way they are shouting creates doubts. i think this time proper action must be taken against the real culprits who have damaged the image of media.
June 18, 2012
If the above mentioned journalists are really involved in any such crime then it is a moment of a shame for them and their families and very unfortunate for the whole nation….. but yet i guess this may be some sort of a dirty game by the government and her handmade stupids……
June 19, 2012
can u bring the proof of the money and plots received by the 19 journalists.Why did not you go to court or the Disclose the proof in front of public.other wise you should be ready for Allah torment in both of the worlds.PLease don’t demfame someone without solid proof.if you really have proof let everyone see it.
June 19, 2012
According to Nusrat Javed, the list was prepred by son of Dr Alvi (Secretary general of PTI) and released to media and those journalists have been targetted who were criticising PTI… this is another aspect.
June 26, 2012
SHARAM MAGAR UNHAIN NAHEE AATI. BAIGHAIRAT LOG.
June 29, 2012
These 19 person should be investigaed properly, i am sure kamran Khan is 100% involved….
July 3, 2012
Agreed…!
July 27, 2012
I want to show off the reallity of one person whos name is mohd ashraf.who live in lahore model town house no 803 R block.
He has killed 16 innocence girls. He is a criminal and no one can take action against to him.He is very rich person and he was covered his crime by wealth. He is very worst and liar man.
One person whos name is shahid azmat also involved with his all crimes.
plz take some serious action about it and save life of innocence girls.plz
show the reallity of these persons on tv.
August 1, 2012
O’ LORD TELL US “THE TRUTH” – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE! WE KNOW FOR ONE ITS WASTE LOOKING AT TELLY BURNING OUR EYES _ VIEWING NOTHING BUT “GUP SHUP”…………….
November 23, 2012
MY WORRIES EXPLAINED ON 17 JUNE 2012, REMINDED ON JULY 25,2012 HAVE NOT REPLIED/EXPLAINED……………………..WHY?
December 28, 2012
Without going into the details of who might have got what, one thing is sure that Malik Riaz Hussain has been paying significant gratifications to all and sundry. He is on record and various journalists have already written a lot about the same. I am not sure whether it was each time to exploit the situation to get more or it was purely out of his/her nationalistic instinct. The point however here is other side of the equation – Malik Riaz. Why should only one part of the equation be blamed. In fact it is Malik Riaz who has promoted mass level of corruption in the country and our business management universities might start educating Bahria Town as a case study as a successful enterprenure. And obviously while discussing the same they are bound to extensively discuss and educate our future leaders about the key success factor of Bahria Town i.e. corruption, corruption and corruption, land grabbing, coersiveness, dictatorship, exploitation, opportunism, and in fact “double shah”, using others money for its own business gains illegally, which otherwise is totally prohibited under the Companies Ordinance 1984.
Can anybody kindly think for a while that from where all that money is coming from which is being used to snub the poor land owners as well as to bribe all and sundry for keep the actual owners i.e. allottees and residents of Bahria Town. Any thoughts!!!
January 30, 2013
AGAR KISI NE PAISAY NAI LIAY TO KUEN NAI US CHANNEL YA SOURCE KE KHELAF COURT MEIN HATEK E IZZAT KA DAWA DAIYAR KARAY…?
PER EN MEIN SE KOEE BE AISA NAI KAR SAKTA KEUN KEY SEB NE ES MULK KO LOOTA HY, ES SE ACHA HY MULK KO 10 SAAL KE LIAY USA KE HAWALAY KER DEIN….
April 4, 2013
Pakistan needs revolutionary change…
Every department in pakistan is corrupt.
April 9, 2013
Well, honestly, I ain’t got any words to describe my disgust.I’m not a big fan of fowl language but only words, I murmured were mostly ” F ” words. Yes we cant say for sure, whether list is genuine or fake but there got to be something black at the bottom. Being a student of journalism and having a practical experience in working western media outlets, I have no doubt that media is always working towards certain propaganda.But I was not expecting that these leading journalists of country were merely chasing their personal benefits. I cant say much about most tv channels operating in Pakistan but GEO is fighting a war of west to promote their ideas in return of BUCKS. cutting the matter short, SHAME ON YOU BASTARDS WHO HAVE TAKEN BRIBES.
April 23, 2013
ONE IS HONEST IN PAKISTAN WHO CANNOT LAY HAND ON MONEY OR PROPERTY. MOST OF THE PLITICIANS, GOVERNMENT SERVANTS, RELLIGIOUS LEADERS IN POLITICS ARE CORRUPT. SOME GET HOT CASH, SOME PLOTS AND LAND AND SOME GET OTHER BENEFITS LIKE IMPORT EXPORT PERMITS AND SOME AVOID PAYING LAWFUL IMPORT AND EXPORT DUTY TO THE GOVERNMENT EXCHEQUER AND MANY DONT PAY INCOME TAX. WHAT IF THE JOURNALISTS HAVE TAKEN MONEY FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO MALIK RIAZ. CAN YOU CALL IT A BRIBE? HOW?
April 24, 2013
In Pakistan everyone is known dishonet, corrupt & opportunist. I am surprised to known the name of such persons who used to give the speech on TV for declaration of name who are invloved in bribery. Look at Kamran, Hamid Mir, Dr. Shahid whole nation is ashamed on their characters.
April 24, 2013
well i really ve a fifty fifty believe in its possibility, just one thing which pushes me to believe is that we knw Malik Riaz has been investing fr PMLN and this is als a fact that Aftab iqbal, so learned and educated is doing all his efforts to build the immage of PMLN and destroy others like ppp and specialy PTI. infact all the names mentioned here are always prmoting PMLN less hasan nisar but his transactions are old. Anyways i do belive that an inquiry should be held t find outr the facts
July 9, 2013
In my beloved country the judicial system is only required to punish the individuals who do not have money, contacts, sources/resources, political & bureaucratic background, judicial contacts / approach etc etc.
July 9, 2013
Najam Sethi too? Who can one trust in today’s Pakistan then?
July 14, 2013
I am grossly appalled!
Even if 10% of posts here are factual, the matter calls for a SC’sa suo motto notice.