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51 Senior Journalists Condemn Accusations Against Media Association

Leading media professionals and editors in Pakistan have condemned what they call "blatant accusations and lies of Mr Zaid Hamid against the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA)," on the Crossfire program on Dunya TV. SAFMA is a mainstream media body associated with SAARC.

A press release was issued by Sadaf Arshad, Executive Editor, South Asia Media Monitor of the Media Commission in Pakistan, outlining the situation. It was signed by 51 media professionals.

All 51 took serious exception to what they called "unfounded and shameful accusations" made in the talk show hosted by Ms Mehr Bukhari on Dunya TV, saying the accusations "violate all ethics of professional journalism."

The press release said Mr Zaid committed extreme defamation, inciting public sentiment against SAFMA and its thousands of members. Ms Mehr Bukhari, the Crossfire team, and Dunya TV management condoned the maligning of the media body and its leaders by allowing such a provocative and damaging statement.

SAFMA representatives have not been invited to rebut the allegations aired by Dunya TV.

The group says this is part of a dangerous trend, in which electronic media maligns personalities and credible organizations.

SAFMA has a role in defense of the right to know, freedom of expression, press freedom, rights of journalists, media development, peace and regional cooperation. The senior journalists say they endorse SAFMA's decision to sue the analyst, anchor, her team, and the management of Dunya TV.

The Secretary General of the South Asian Free Media Association, Imtiaz Alam, President of SAFMA Pakistan, Nusrat Javed, and other office bearers of various SAFMA branches in Pakistan say they have issued legal notices to the accusers. The aim is to make them pay for what has been called their highly irresponsible and provocative conduct.

Signatures on the press release included:
I A Rehman, Senior Journalist and Director HRCP;
M. Ziauddin, Executive Editor Express Tribune;
Zahid Hussain, Senior Editor Newsline;
Nazir Leghari, Editor Awam; Hussain Naqi, Senior Journalist;
Sadaf Arshad, Executive Editor Media Monitor;
Atta-ul- Musawar, City Editor, Express Tribune;
Amir Mehmood, General Secretary, CPNE;
Siddique Baloch, Editor, Balochistan Times;
Tariq Chaudry, Vice President of PFUJ;
Tahir Rathore, President, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ);
Khalid Farooqi, Editor, Daily Awaz;
Ayaz Khan, Editor Editorial, Daily Express;
Raza Rumi, News Editor of The Friday Times;
Shahzada Zulfiqar, Senior Journalist, Quetta;
Nusrat Javeed, Anchorperson Aaj TV;
Sirmed Manzoor, General Secretary SAFMA, Pakistan;
Agha Nasir, Director Geo News;
Iftikhar Ahmed, Anchorperson Geo News;
Babar Ayaz, Columnist;
Shamim Shahid, President Peshawar Press Club;
Saleem Shahid, President Quetta Press Club;
Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Editor Awami Awaz;
Ghazi Salahuddin, Columnist;
Mujahid Barelvi, Anchorperson CNBC;
Irfana Mallah, Columnist;
Jehangeer Aslam, President Turbat Press Club;
GN Mughal, Senior Sindhi Journalist;
Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Editor;
Syed Mumtaz Shah, Editor Mashriq Quetta and Lahore;
Lala Asad, President Sukkar Press Club;
Khalid Khokar, Editor;
Fayyaz Naich, Anchorperson Sindh TV;
Amer Sindhu, Columnist;
Anjum Rasheed, Senior Journalist Jang Group;
Khalid Chaudhry, Former Editor AajKal;
Shoaib Adil, Editor Naya Zamana;
Saida Fazal, Resident Editor Business Recorder;
Munno Bhai, Columnist;
Ibrahim Shirwani, Senior Journalist;
Asma Shirazi, Anchor SAMAA TV;
Afzal Khan, Columnist;
Mustansar Javed, Editor DateLine;
Rana Qaisar, Resident Editor Pakistan Today, Islamabad;
Shamsul Islam Naz, Former Sec-Gen PFUJ, Khushnood Ali Khan, Editor Jinnah;
Mehmal Sarfaraz, Editor Oped Daily Times;
Khaled Ahmed, Editor and Columnist;
Allama Sadiq Azhar, Columnist Waqt;
Imtiaz Alam, Editor South Asian Journal