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Forbes - Why Is This Man Banned For Life From Pakistani TV?

I was referring to censorship, of which there is none. You are referring to a totally different issue, which also has known work-around.

Pakistan still has a ban on YouTube, ferchrissakes!

okay.......

but anyway, the point was that even USA is not a standard to be followed....It is the principles that matter. Regardless if the west follows them or not.

Here we use this twisted logic that if it's happening in USA(or what ever country), then it's definitely okay to do it here...that's the logic that guy was using, since something similar (it wasn't similar at all though) happened in USA, it's no big deal if it happens here as well.....
 
I apply the same standards to myself first before holding others to them too.



So how did that work out in the Missing Persons Case? The military behaves as if above them all.

read the title of the thread my dear Genious

your posts are a classical examples of
ماروں گٹھنہ پھوٹے آنکھ

سوال گندم جواب چنا


tell me how is "missing persons" case related and relevant to this topic where a media person is barred from life?
do tell me, how does your dissatisfaction with military's conduct in the case above justify that Mubashir Luqman must be banned?
 
Last edited:
10/30/2014 @ 8:19AM 897 views

Why Is This Man Banned For Life From Pakistani TV?


View attachment 138886

On October 17 of this year, investigative journalist Mubasher Lucman was banned for life from television in Pakistan. The case was taken up suo motu by the judiciary and found that Mr. Lucman maligned the judiciary egregiously enough to merit a lifetime ban from appearing in any capacity on television. As he says, “I cannot even host a game show.”


Mr. Lucman has covered many topics since entering televised journalism in 2006. He has become well known for investigating government corruption despite reprisals including three untimely visits to his home by the police, threats against his 14 year-old son and 12 year-old daughter, as well as having a gun fired in his general direction.

Mr. Lucman, age 52, is a graduate of Aitchison College Lahore and Government College, both esteemed institutions in Pakistan. He has had many careers before entering the field of journalism. He has served in a government ministry position, been part of the first fiberoptic network installation in Pakistan and worked in advertising. Along his largely business career, he occasionally wrote columns for newspapers in both Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

In 2006, his boss suggested he move to a different part of the conglomerated business to try life as a journalist on television because, “he thought I would be good at it.” Since then, Mr. Lucman estimates he has done more than 2,500 shows, the majority of which involved investigative reporting. He has changed stations many times and up until his recent ban was at ARY News where his investigative show was called Khara Sach.

Initially, all programming from ARY was also banned from the airwaves for the first 15 days of Mr. Lucman’s ban but the decision to suspend ARY from the airwaves for half a month was subsequently reversed. ARY has continued to be supportive of Mr. Lucman in social media and as otherwise possible. Salman Iqbal, President & CEO of ARY Digital Network, states: "Since our inception ARY has always stood for the freedom of press, speech and to always bring out the facts and the truth. Mubasher stands for these same principles. We may have been quieted temporarily but the truth can never be buried for good.We know we will face a backlash for these ideals, but ARY, Mubasher and its supporters will continue to bring to the public the truth and face this political turmoil."

Since our inception ARY has always stood for the freedom of press, speech and to always bring out the facts
and the truth. Mubasher stands for these same principles. We may have been quieted temporarily but the truth can never be buried for good.We know we will face a backlash for these ideals, but ARY, Mubasher and its supporters will continue to bring to the public the truth and face this political turmoil.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority(PEMRA) is ostensibly in charge of regulating all media in Pakistan. Mr. Lucman relates that the suo motu judgment was taken without his own presence in court and that PEMRA has subsequently been informed by the judiciary that they must enforce this ruling. Attempts to contact PEMRA for this story were not responded to prior to publication.

The principal judge involved in this case is Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi of the Lahore High Court. Justice Naqvi has additionally put Mr. Lucman on Pakistan’s Exit Control List (ECL) which essentially bans Mr. Lucman from traveling outside the country. The ECL is typically reserved for persons committing corruption, misusing power, trafficking drugs, in significant violation of tax law, known terrorists or people who are dangerous criminals.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international non-profit, has questioned the treatment of Mr. Lucman and ARY. Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator says: "Basically, we see Lucman’s case as part of a broader anti-media attitude on the part of the judiciary. They have often taken on the media for criticizing courts and judges as if they were somehow above reproof. It’s a problem that has saddled most of Pakistan’s governments over the years. Though they have often been on the same side in political issues, the press and the judiciary are not natural allies. The overkill of the lifetime broadcast ban meted out to Lucman is typical of the courts’ sense of being beyond the give and take in modern society, that they still have an imperial sense of their role in a democratic government."

Basically, we see Lucman’s case as part of a broader anti-media attitude on the part of the judiciary. They have often taken on the media for criticizing courts and judges as if they were somehow above reproof. It’s a problem that has saddled most of Pakistan’s governments over the years. Though they have often been on the same side in political issues, the press and the judiciary are not natural allies. The overkill of the lifetime broadcast ban meted out to Lucman is typical of the courts’ sense of being beyond the give and take in modern society, that they still have an imperial sense of their role in a democratic government. Benjamin Ismaïl, Head of the Asia-Pacific Desk for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) agrees with Mr. Dietz’s sentiment:

"It is not exceptional for the PEMRA to take repressive measures such as ordering a ban on a media, especially in such a period of political tensions. However, a lifetime ban, which is the equivalent of a permanent shutdown of a media, on an individual, I haven’t ever heard of such case in Pakistan… [T]his ban seems to be a ban on appearing in television in any capacity, which is absolutely disproportionate and illegal in regard to the laws of Pakistan. RSF strongly condemns this decision, as well as the raid on the home of the journalist by the police, in an attempt to arrest him. All these judiciary and police actions constitute blatant and shocking violations of press freedom and are counter-productive in the sense that they will not help cool down the political debate… We ask for an immediate annulation of this decision."

I spoke with Mr. Lucman to find out what he did to earn a complete censorship from television, a suspension of income from his livelihood and a ban from leaving the country so that he might earn a livelihood elsewhere.

Jon Springer: What is the basis for the case against you?

Mubasher Lucman: I never criticized the judiciary in this case. I was investigating a businessman [Asim Malik] who ran off from Pakistan with 11 billion rupees [approximately U.S. $183 million at the time] fourteen years ago. We tracked him down and went abroad to interview him. He agreed to provide his point of view if I would meet his request that I do not edit his interview to ensure his side of the story would get out. He relayed information that part of conducting his business was more than half a dozen ministers taking bribes from him. He accused members of the judiciary of taking bribes as well. We showed a video that this businessman provided that he says shows the son-in-law of one said judge accepting a bribe of 40,000 British pounds as a ‘scholarship’ from him in exchange for a ruling in his favor.

Springer: Is it against the law in Pakistan to interview people who say such things? or to interview criminals wanted by the government?

Lucman: It isn’t against the law to interview anyone, even someone evading the law. People interviewed Bin Laden and Al-Zawahiri.

Springer: Do you think it is political?

Lucman: I did vote for the [opposition] PTI and Imran Khan in the last election. I was open and said so prior to the election. There is tons of evidence of wrong doing in that election. Yes, I think the mandate of the people was stolen in the last election. However, as far as I know, my case emanates solely from the judiciary that took it up suo motu. The problem with Pakistan when you go beyond a certain level is that everyone is connected. You never know who is backing who. It is difficult to say a particular party is behind the scenes of this or that.

Springer: How does this ban reflect on Pakistan’s democracy?

Lucman: Many times I have filed police reports of incidents however they have not materialised in formalFIR reports by police and I can only attribute that to the interference of the government. For instance when the police illegally raided my home a few weeks back and harassed my children taking their snaps, they had come in full uniform and police vehicles. When I reported the matter, the Deputy Inspector General of operations said ‘These are not our people….’ I urged him to lodge a formal complaint if that was the case. My written complaint is at the police station and to-date no formal report has been lodged by the police. This is a usual practice here for those who are perceived to be not supportive of the government. I have been fired upon. My home has been invaded. My children have been threatened. No one makes these types of sacrifices unless they believe that things can be better than they are.

Follow Jon Springer on Twitter @FrontierWriter or connect via LinkedIn.

Why Is This Man Banned For Life From Pakistani TV? - Forbes
great man… i love this guy…
i hope he can make it back to tv…
what ever he did in the past shouldnt matter anymore…. what he is doing for our country now is a great service…
@FaujHistorian you are crazy for hating this guy… but then again you hate most things good for pakistan.
 
read the title of the thread my dear Genious

your posts are a classical examples of
ماروں گٹھنہ پھوٹے آنکھ

سوال گندم جواب چنا


tell me how is "missing persons" case related and relevant to this topic where a media person is barred from life?
do tell me, how does your dissatisfaction with military's conduct in the case above justify that Mubashir Luqman must be banned?

Says it all, Sir: :D

Urban Dictionary: Genious

===========================================

Anyway, the Missing Persons Case is as relevant as an example of just how dysfunctional the entire system has become, where miscarriage and being above the law has become the norm. If one protests the present conviction, then one must apply the same standards to other cases too. If one accepts the other cases as being correctly handled, then one must accept the present verdict too.

One cannot be selective in protesting such dysfunction according to one's personal biases.

Get it, "Genious" Sir?
 
Says it all, Sir: :D

Urban Dictionary: Genious

===========================================

Anyway, the Missing Persons Case is as relevant as an example of just how dysfunctional the entire system has become, where miscarriage and being above the law has become the norm. If one protests the present conviction, then one must apply the same standards to other cases too. If one accepts the other cases as being correctly handled, then one must accept the present verdict too.

One cannot be selective in protesting such dysfunction according to one's personal biases.

Get it, "Genious" Sir?
trust me I do
thanks for confirmation
 
trust me I do
thanks for confirmation

Ah yes, I thought you were above personal insults against those with whom you disagree and pretending to be merely ignorant, but apparently that was too much to hope for! :D

Anyway, what about the rest of my post that you seem to have missed?
 
Sir, do you think that Hamid Mir had the same rights as you want for Mr. Luqman? Or should this privilege be granted selectively by a higher authority?
Not selling Pakistani security agencies not falsely accusing ISI chief for murder luqman exposed corruption but traitor Mir was attacking ISI chief without any proof
 
great man… i love this guy…
i hope he can make it back to tv…
what ever he did in the past shouldnt matter anymore…. what he is doing for our country now is a great service…
@FaujHistorian you are crazy for hating this guy… but then again you hate most things good for pakistan.

I don't like anarchists.

that's all.

2nd one.

why was he put on the ECL ? just cuz he comes on TV and says something gov doesn't agree with ??

He will make a deal and go to Dubai.

Don't worry my brother.

These goons are much more connected to power than you and I.
 
He will make a deal and go to Dubai.

Don't worry my brother.

These goons are much more connected to power than you and I.

again my question, why is a mere journalist put on ECL ? regardless whether he gets out of it or not.....
just cuz the government doesn't like his views? how democratic is that?
 
Says it all, Sir: :D

Urban Dictionary: Genious

===========================================

Anyway, the Missing Persons Case is as relevant as an example of just how dysfunctional the entire system has become, where miscarriage and being above the law has become the norm. If one protests the present conviction, then one must apply the same standards to other cases too. If one accepts the other cases as being correctly handled, then one must accept the present verdict too.

One cannot be selective in protesting such dysfunction according to one's personal biases.

Get it, "Genious" Sir?


Shah Ji, meray bhai, meray piaray

Irfan bhai is one of the most respected posters here.

He has his view on Luq

and you have yours

and I have mine.

out of respect for Irfan bhai, please let it be.

thank you

again my question, why is a mere journalist put on ECL ? regardless whether he gets out of it or not.....
just cuz the government doesn't like his views? how democratic is that?

Why do you call him "mere journalist".

Oh bhai meray, meray piaray, LuQ is a giant nay King Kong of the news media.

unfortunately you don't realize it.

heck even he doesn't realize it.

and so he behaved not like a giant journalist, but a 5th grader school yard bully, doing gaali galoch all the time.

There must be a law against bullies like him.

And please avoid supporting bullies even when they are 5th grade school yard variety.

Thank you
 
Why do you call him "mere journalist".

Oh bhai meray, meray piaray, LuQ is a giant nay King Kong of the news media.

unfortunately you don't realize it.

heck even he doesn't realize it.

and so he behaved not like a giant journalist, but a 5th grader school yard bully, doing gaali galoch all the time.

There must be a law against bullies like him.

And please avoid supporting bullies even when they are 5th grade school yard variety.

Thank you

at the end of the day, he is simply a journalist, not a crime lord (which are by the way free to roam around the country)...

doesn't matter if he's king or pawn....he has a right to express his opinion.....by suppressing voices like his, anyone who finds anything wrong with government cannot express himself and that is NOT DEMOCRATIC...

And I've yet to see any gaali galoch from him on air...and even if there was, the laws for that are already in place...And I doubt they include putting a journalist on ECL..
 
at the end of the day, he is simply a journalist, not a crime lord (which are by the way free to roam around the country)...

doesn't matter if he's king or pawn....he has a right to express his opinion.....by suppressing voices like his, anyone who finds anything wrong with government cannot express himself and that is NOT DEMOCRATIC...

And I've yet to see any gaali galoch from him on air...and even if there was, the laws for that are already in place...And I doubt they include putting a journalist on ECL..

you will never be allowed to shout fire in a crowded place. Not even in the freest societies in the world.

LuQ and TuQ are all anarchist.

And anarchy never should be equated with true freedom.
 
you will never be allowed to shout fire in a crowded place. Not even in the freest societies in the world.

LuQ and TuQ are all anarchist.

And anarchy never should be equated with true freedom.

In most countries you can say what ever you want....
 

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