New Delhi: A new leaked audio between Pakistan Muslim League (N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and party leader Pervaiz Rashid is fuelling the Pakistani public’s anger towards the media.
While the politicians can be heard purportedly scheming to control independent media, the audio claims that certain journalists will receive ‘baskets’ from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The ‘aam aadmi’ of Pakistan now have a new name for those who are betraying public trust: ‘Basket Journalists.’
The tape, leaked online on Tuesday, captures Nawaz and Rashid complaining of certain “bias anchors” and shames them for “abusing the (PML-N) a lot”. In the recordings, Rashid can be heard saying: “They (Geo News) have a programme ‘Score Card’ where journalist Hasan Nisar abuses us (PML-N) a lot”.
“Nobody there can be called our spokesperson. It will become an imbalanced programme. If there was a check on Imran Khan, you have ended it and [imposed] barking dogs on us,” Rashid is quoted as saying in the recording, according to Dawn. To this, Maryam allegedly responds: “Indeed, this is bias.”
Towards the end of the conversation, Nawaz allegedly says she will “pass instructions that a pair of baskets that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif brought from Azerbaijan should be sent to journalists Nusrat Javeed and Rana Jawad”.
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PML-N’s ‘experience’ with media
Farrukh Habib, Minister of State for Information, slammed PML-N for their “vast experience and [expertise] of blackmailing and controlling freedom of media”.
What also captured public attention online is the Geo News’ attempt, or what they called “spin”, to use the video to justify their claim of how the “PML-N government was also unhappy with Geo” for their usage of “inappropriate language” against the party. The leaked audio was run by Ary news and Samaa TV on Tuesday.
While one Twitter user called Geo News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada “greatest spinner ever”, another slammed him saying, “Audio leak tells the story of MNS talking to Mir Shakil to change their anchors to get pro PMLN members and sending baskets to Rana Fawad but GEO news anchor Khanzada spins it”.
Audio leak tells the story of MNS talking to mir shakil to change their anchors to get pro pmln members and sending baskets to rana fawad but khanzada spins it as: https://t.co/k9weqD6BsF
— Sohaib Chatri (@SohaibChatri) January 5, 2022
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Credibility of journalists
Many argued that the audiotape has “also buried the credibility of journalists in Pakistan”. Meanwhile, Pakistani investment banker and author Mir Mohammad Alikhan said that Pakistan had progressed, calling those working in the Pakistani media “BASKET Journalists”, not “LIFAFA Journalists” anymore.
Another master blaster audio leak of @MaryamNSharif . It hasn't only drowned @pmln_org but also buried the credibility of journalists in Pakistan. The word shame is ashamed of it's existence. pic.twitter.com/1BhY9Ht1E7
— AmNa راجا (@Ama_008_) January 4, 2022
My Request To Fellow Pakistanis:
After today please do not call anyone a LIFAFA Journalist. Pakistan has progressed. We are انگریزی from now on.
From today onwards:
It is BASKET Journalists.
— Mir Mohammad Alikhan (@MirMAKOfficial) January 4, 2022
Another master blaster audio leak of @MaryamNSharif . It hasn't only drowned @pmln_org but also buried the credibility of journalists in Pakistan. The word shame is ashamed of it's existence. pic.twitter.com/1BhY9Ht1E7
— AmNa راجا (@Ama_008_) January 4, 2022
One Twitter user said that while America boasted of ‘deep pockets’, Pakistan had ‘deep Baskets’, while another user wrote: “ARY is playing this audio to show that the PML-N government was also unhappy with Geo”.
American media: Deep Pockets
Pakistan media: Deep Baskets#ٹوکری_کو_عزت_دو pic.twitter.com/XKmLOVjk2Q
— Shoaib Aftab (@shoaibaftab512) January 4, 2022
اے آر وائی یہ آڈیو چلا کر بتا رہا ہے کہ نون لیگ کی حکومت بھی جیو سے ناخوش تھی وہ چینل جس کے بارے پی ٹی آئی والے کہتے تھے/ہیں کہ یہ نون لیگ کا حمایتی ہے pic.twitter.com/sWr2E5LGeV
— Umar Cheema (@UmarCheema1) January 4, 2022
LOL @ ARY vindicating Geo. ? https://t.co/f7x54uW5RA
— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) January 4, 2022
However, Pakistan journalist Abbas Nasir backed Nusrat Javeed and Rana Jawad Senior and wrote: “Only ARY can shoot itself in the foot thus with PMLN leaders discussing how ‘anti-PMLN’ is Geo’s Scorecard. And very lowly blow, I am sure no journo who works in ARY approves, to attack Nusrat Javeed and Rana Jawad for no reason”.
Only ARY can shoot itself in the foot thus with PMLN leaders discussing how 'anti-PMLN' is Geo's Scorecard. And very lowly blow, I am sure no journo who works in ARY approves, to attack Nusrat Javeed and Rana Jawad for no reason. https://t.co/uRmWhjAEOM
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) January 4, 2022