Ever since the arrival of Dr Qadri in Pakistan and his demands to implement changes in the Pakistani political system, the Pakistani political scene is buzzing. Dr Qadri is demanding the political system should be made more accountable to the public and for the coming interim government to bar candidates who don’t fulfil the criteria listed in the Constitution of Pakistan, and the conditions set out in the rules of the election commission of Pakistan, ensuring free and fair general elections, instead of a continuation of the status quo.

The demands of the Dr Qadri would not ruffle the feathers of any citizen of a civilized western country. The same could be said for the western media, they wouldn’t raise a clamor if someone uses the same utterances in the west. These conditions are simply the norms in the west. But strangely these demands have caused ripples in the Pakistani press for last two weeks.

Powerful Pakistani journalists are up in arms against Dr Qadri. He faces public humiliation every day in Pakistani broadcast media. The funny side of these attacks on Dr Qadri is that these “distinguished” Pakistani journalists who consider themselves to be cut above the rest are now using material available on the social media. Most what had been disclosed by the TV talk shows was already available to a majority of Pakistanis who happened to be internet savvy. The hypocrisy of Pakistani broadcast journalists is evident from the fact that when it suits them they freely use the contents of alternative media, but when it goes against their interests they attack social media.

In a talk show “top story” (3/1/13) the presenter showed an old video of Dr Qadri by stating they have shown the video as soon they received it without any alterations or editing. Excuse me but since when YouTube video became a source of reliable sources for Pakistani Media! The hypocrisy of Pakistani media is now well established, not only they use the social media whenever it suits them but they show theses contents to Pakistani public like it is their investigative work or scoop. When lack of their professionalism, their greed and their malpractices are discussed, for example getting  “Brown envelopes” from their political masters in lieu of doing their bidding in the public, the same journalists attack social media like barracudas. This particular video had been in the public domain on the YouTube for eons.

In earlier shows many TV presenters showed a video compiled by a blogger where the different statements made by Dr Qadri were compiled to show perceived contradictions.

At the moment Pakistani journalists are going hell for leather against Dr Qadri, just because the man has demanded changes in the Pakistani political system. Something which is not acceptable to not only the status quo politicians but their sympathizers in the Pakistani journalistic community. They want to shoot the messenger rather than concentrate on the message he is delivering. I personally may have thousands of disagreement with Dr Qadri, but should my prejudices against Dr Qadri and what  he stands for stops me from listening to things which are relevant for Pakistani nation!!

I cannot comprehend incessant attacks on Dr Qadri by Pakistani media. They ask questions about his credibility, his financial dealings, his past statements, just because he is asking questions which should have been asked by every Pakistani politician and journalist.  The same questions had been asked by Imran Khan and PTI for a considerable period of time now. Imran Khan was facing the same attacks and ridicule for years, which now have become the fate of Dr Qadri.  At least it proved one suspicion correct, the attacks on Imran Khan were based on the same fears of the status quo parties and their supporters and sympthsisers in the press.

Mr Malick is a seasoned journalist who had taken pride from the fact that he had been an editor of a formidable English daily for years. He went from sublime to the ridiculous in the same program “top story”, he disclosed he met Qadri again to inquire, investigate and tie some loose ends which were left unanswered during the interview of Dr Qadri Malick conducted on Duniya News. Mr Malick wanted to know how the money for the gathering in Lahore in December was transferred to Pakistan if the funds were generated from the overseas followers of Dr Qadri!! No doubt It is a legitimate request in anyone’s book. But, and it is a huge but, the problem is Mr Malick in his wisdom doesn’t apply the same high standards to the politicians of Pakistan. To them, Mr Malick point of view is completely opposite to his demands from Dr Qadri. Mr Malick supports the idea that democracy should be given the chance to flourish. No matter if the politicians leave Pakistan battered and blue. Shouldn’t Mr Malick be asking the same questions from prominent people like Sharifs how they transferred millions of dollars out of the country to start their businesses aborad? Or from President Zardari, how did he acquire numerous overseas properties? How the money was transferred? And more importantly what were their sources of income? How much taxes they paid? Unfortunately, Pakistani journalists show incredible professional dishonesty and turn the whole arguments around to pretend that it is a necessary evil for the continuation of the democracy in Pakistan.

In a nutshell their motive is, all the thimblerig and putrefaction done by the politicians is of no consequences they should be allowed to keep the loot and in fact they should be free to have another go, may be just may be next time around they would give up on debauchery and pilferage.  They should try explaining this to a citizen of a civilized country. The look of bewilderment on the westerners face would be a sight to behold. Probably that’s why I am unable to understand this epigons logic by the politicians and journalists of Pakistan.

Kashif Abbasi in a recent interview with Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan, the opposition leader in Pakistan’s national properties Kashif Abbasi discussed properties of Sharifs in the United Kingdo worth $1.2 billion. Chaudry Nisar’s response was a well encapsulated lie by PMLN leaders. Hassan Nawaz built the empire in England on 5% or 10% down payments and the rest was financed by mortgages obtained on the properties. I would be grateful to Chaudry Nisar if he lets me know the bank who could lend 95% of the value of a commercial property. I would love to buy a few properties of my own in the lucrative and exorbitant areas of London. Even Kashif’s figures were well out of the mark from the true values of the properties shown in the accounts of the companies owned by Hassan Nawaz. The commercial properties are just part of the story, there are far more properties owned by the Sharifs on different names which are not part of the companies spearheaded by Hassan in the UK.

The deceptions on properties owned by them are two pronged by Sharifs and their political backers. They aren’t only misleading Pakistanis on how the properties listed in the company accounts were purchased, but by distracting the journalists they don’t disclose the properties which are not listed in the company accounts. For example the four flats owned by the Sharifs in Mayfair were bought well before the companies were formed by Hassan. Those are not the only properties, there are others, whose funding could not be attributed to the companies owned by Hassan Nawaz. PMLN bank on the professional negligence of Pakistani journalists. Sharifs and other PMLN leaders are right to make that calculation, after all they had been fooling us all for decades. In all those decades, our precious journalists had asked many very “pointed questions” but neither providing any answers nor any proofs to Pakistan nation. The joke is Chaudry Nisar tried to put Kashif on the pedestal by commenting, I wasn’t expecting such questions from you, a well informed journalist. Oh please, give me a break.

Secondly, Chaudry Nisar was materially incorrect on the funding of the properties owned by the companies of Hassan Nawaz

One thing is clear from such examples, Pakistani journalists don’t do their homework. Both Abbasi and Malick should be ashamed of their professionalism. Kashif has done numerous programs on the finances of the Sharifs but not once had he asked relevant questions from different leaders of PMLN, or shown tangible evidence to the Pakistani nation. Similarly Mr Malick claims to have decades of experience in Pakistan’s biggest English newspaper, but despite spending decades in the field, he still has no proofs of money laundering by the Sharifs. Instead both of them are more interested in the Pakistani nation giving corrupt politicians another chance to decimate Pakistan.

Now let’s turn our attention to the most important issue, the tests of truthfulness and honesty set out in the constitution of Pakistan, which states in 62 (f)  “he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and Ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law.”

At the moment Pakistani journalists are having a pop at this section of the Pakistani constitution because of Dr Qadri’s demand that only veracious and menschy people should be selected to the Parliament according to the conditions set out in the constitution of Pakistan. According to their convictions if we apply and demand that every parliamentarian should fulfil these two requirements of the constitution then the whole parliament would be vacated and most of the parliamentarian would be disqualified to hold their office.

The worst comments on this issue are made by the Grand Daddy of Pakistani journalism. Not that  he is in reality, but at least he perceives himself to be one.   I am of course referring to Nusarat Jawaid, the tempestuous broadcaster who attacks callers to his program like a Rottweiler, if they happened to disagree with him or say something which is not to the liking of this inclement man.

According to Nusarat the titles of “Sadiq and Ameen” were given to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his youth, therefore, none of the Muslim could possibly fulfill these requirements, because no one can take the place of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

This excuse is the king of all the lame arguments, I have ever witnessed. The most disturbing aspect for Pakistanis should be the fact that instead of distancing themselves from Nusarat’s pernicious comments, some commentators tried to actually copy him. This fact is such an indictment of Pakistani journalism, its members have stooped so low that they want to convey to the nation, we are beyond rapprochement, we are so damned and dissipated that we cannot fulfill the requirements of the constitution and cannot find enough honest and truthful people for our Parliaments. Sadiq and Ameen close  translations are truthful and honest in English.

If these arguments are presented to the citizens of the world, the majority would laugh at the dishonesty of this mountebank.

He doesn’t have a leg to stand on even in religious terms. Every Muslim knows that he has to follow the “Sunnah” of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and should try to copy his words and deeds, and implement them in their lives. Perhaps this was the reason these sections were introduced in the Constitution of Pakistan. Such perversity prevails in the minds of Pakistani journalists that they are making a mockery  of common sense, Islamic values and its jurisprudence.

What are the alternatives available to Pakistani nation, one should ask these profligate Pakistani journalists, if they don’t select honest and truthful legislatures to their Parliaments? Select dubious characters, fabulists and flinches? I have spent considerable time to understand the logics of Pakistani journalists, but failed to do so. I may not be alone in this shortcoming, sane people all around the world would find it difficult to stomach such bizarre logics.

I suggested to PTI supporters that IK and PTI should take this opportunity to get their house in order and get ready for the coming general elections, while heat is turned on Dr Qadri by Pakistani journalists and two political parties in power. In a program yesterday Mr Saad Rafique demanded that PTI should make their position clear. In a previous article, I have termed Mr Rafique as luckiest person on the face of the earth due to his winning not one but numerous top prizes in Pakistani government issued bonds according to Mr Abidi. Mr Rafique you should refrain from making capital out of this situation, Imran Khan had already stated in different statements both to the media and in talk shows that in principle Dr Qadri’s demands are in line with the demands of PTI, which Imran and other PTI leaders had been making for years. PTI would like timely general elections in Pakistan; they are not in favor of postponement or delays in the elections. Mr Rafique takes liberties with the people of Pakistan by issuing such moralistic demands when in reality, he should not be in parliament in compliance with Pakistani constitution, instead he should be in a nick, serving time for forgery, theft and deception.

Pakistanis cannot expect these extremely twisted journalists to hold corrupt politicians responsible for their deeds. Far from doing their professional duties and exposing these corrupt politicians with the proofs admissible in the courts, which could  debar these corrupt politicians from holding public and political offices. Instead of helping the Pakistani nation to nab these corrupt thugs and incarcerate them, Pakistani journalists are using canned logic and want them to be exempted from any accountability at all by allowing them to stand in next general elections again so the Pakistani nation can endure another five years of Gehenna, pillage and despondency.

I support Dr Qadri’s demands not because I follow him or consider him a reliable person, but because what he says are truth which had hamstrung the Pakistani political development and is keeping the people of Pakistan from real and meaningful politics. Politicians which should bring prosperity to them rather than the misery imposed on them for decades by dishonest and rake-helly politicians. My bones of contentions with Pakistani journalists are that they used perfunctory logic to shoot down the messenger rather than looking at the message. Like all hypocrites, on the other side of the coin, they preach that the politicians should be exempted from the same tests of morality they are so eagerly applying on Dr Qadri.

Shouldn’t they have applied the same tests on Dr Qadri when he was a member of the Parliament to disqualify him? Why now when he is not a member and constitutional constraints do not apply to him? Why show hypocrisy and not apply the same tests on the politicians participating in your programs?

Same goes for the issue of foreign nationalities, Dr Qadri is right, at the moment the condition doesn’t apply to him, until and unless he contest the elections. If he doesn’t give up his foreign nationality or provide incorrect and false information on his nomination papers, then  you are entitled to ask questions from Dr Qadri. Pakistani politicians and journalists shouldn’t lose the sight of the fact, numerous politicians have failed to either disclosed their foreing nationalities or deliberately lied. Similarly like they lied for their degrees.

You are making a mockery of the standards maintained in public life around the world by suggesting that Pakistani politicians should be allowed to continue like nothing happened, despite their criminal deeds. Only the idiots in Pakistani journalism in their twisted wisdom would not only support the flinches in Pakistani politics, but only they could insist on their wisdom and intelligence.

An English proverb fits perfectly on Pakistani political scene ” be normal and the crowd will accept you. Be deranged, and they will make you their leader”.

Unfortunately deranged politicians had been ruling Pakistan for decades, it is time to get rid of them, it is now or never for Pakistan, if it had to exist as a viable nation. A painful decision to correct the malaises in the political system of Pakistan now is needed, or else we would be ending up with a chronic illness, if we already not had one. Like we say in English “a snitch in time saves nine”.

Or else, Pakistanis would be left uttering “we are brought into this world cold, weak, and helpless. Then it gets worse”.

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"The Blogger is a Post Graduate in Business and Economics. An independent political analyst and researcher, with over 5 years experience in the media."

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