An investigative journalist from Lahore has once again come under fire for an old video of his from 2018. An old clip of his has surfaced on social media as netizens share it while criticizing the journalist.
According to the 2018 clip, the journalist stopped a “green-number plate” car commonly used by government officials. He questioned the driver and asked for his license. However, the then Secretary Irrigation Sher Alam Mehsud, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat, got angry. He questioned the journalist’s authority on checking the driver’s license.
“Are you the traffic police? Why should we show you the license?” the Secretary Irrigation asked. On this note, the journalist hit back and claimed that this is the attitude of the government officials.
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All this happened in 2018. However, somehow the clip has become viral again. Some of Pakistan’s top journalists shared the video and expressed that this is not how journalism is done. They also praised the Secretary for his firm stance.
Leading journalist Imran Riaz Khan highlighted how the media has no boundaries. “The only thing left now is to barge in other people’s homes,” he added.
کیا ابھی بھی پاکستان میں میڈیا کو مزید آزادی چاہئے؟ پھر تو یہ گھروں میں ہی گھس جائیں گے بس یہی رہ گیا ہے۔ https://t.co/f3foJ2CzlL
— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) January 13, 2022
This is not journalism! pic.twitter.com/nWJDfcVcV4
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) January 12, 2022
According to the critics, the journalist did not show any professionalism. Also, he has no authority to randomly stop cars and demand to see the license. That responsibility remains with the traffic wardens.
جب آپ اداکار بننا چاہتے ہوں اور ملک میں فلم انڈسٹری کے زوال کے باعث آپ کو نیوز چینل میں کام کرنا پڑجائے
ویسے سیکرٹری ایریگیشن اسد اللہ صاحب کا جواب بہترین 👌 https://t.co/5UZI0bjPVS
— Muhammad Faheem (@MeFaheem) January 13, 2022
The full picture
Important to note, the journalist had already responded to the criticism on 3rd January 2022. He clarified that the clip belonged to an old show from 2018 which initially kick-started his career. At that time, the show was doing a segment on road safety.
The journalist said that the government car in question was holding up the traffic which made him approach the driver at first. He also said that the secretary’s behavior was very rude at the time.
The journalist also reiterated that the purpose of the show was to highlight how government officers frequently misuse their powers and consider themselves above the law.
While the journalist did make the clarifications earlier this month, the video is once again gaining mass traction on social media.
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