Waiting impatiently to bring about his version of a revolution in Pakistan, Imran Khan has accused, without evidence, the government of having given Rs 270 million to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to buy journalists, columnists and anchorpersons to counter his protest campaign.
The director general of IB, Aftab Sultan, refuted the brazen allegations. He said his organization had not given even a single penny to a journalist during his entire tenure, and volunteered to present the details of the IB’s accounts to the Supreme Court for the satisfaction of detractors like Mr Khan.
Up in arms, journalists across Pakistan have rejected the allegations of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman. They ask him to provide evidence and identify the black sheep in their herd. It looks like Mr Khan does not have evidence. He only has a microphone, a container as his stage, and a horde of supporters. He can make allegations against anyone he wants to.
The PTI information secretary, Dr Shireen Mazari, who happens to be a journalist and a defense analyst herself, almost contradicted the party chairman. While admitting the PTI did not have evidence of journalists receiving bribes, she said generalization should be avoided.
But Mr Khan is not apologetic. He never was. His critics say admitting mistakes is not one of his traits. He never apologized to his cricket team players who equally contributed to winning the 1992 World Cup when he failed to mention them in his victory speech at Melbourne. He never apologized to the nation for backing a military dictator in the 2001 presidential referendum. He never apologized to the PTI founding members like Meraj Muhammad Khan whom he dumped a long time ago.
Many journalists and writers who face smear allegations by Mr Khan were associated with the profession long before he became a politician. The way he weighed journalists was itself questionable.
Mr Khan does not seem to remember that it was two veteran prime time anchors who filed a petition in the Supreme Court to get the IB’s secret funds abolished. They are now critics of Mr Khan.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has repeatedly asked Mr Khan to either stop badmouthing journalists or present evidence. The PTI chairman, who survives on candlelight but travels on helicopters, turns a deaf ear to such calls. He has a group of followers that believes everything he says and does not need evidence.
Meanwhile, allegations of financial irregularities within the PTI have also surfaced in the media recently. The allegations were made by a party renegade and founding member Akbar S Babar. In 2011, he requested the chairman in writing to form an accountability committee to hold corrupt office-bearers accountable. Nothing happened.
The so-called Freedom March, the three month long sit in, and whirlwind rallies across the country must be costing the party dearly. The PTI runs fund raising campaigns inside and outside the country. The party chairman has already requested people to donate to refuel the revolution.
A special audit report of PTI accounts read: “We (the auditors) were not allowed to take photocopies of bank statements along with other data including financial statements with us. These were shown to us but no record was allowed to be retained by us.”
The same report concluded: “Because the above procedures do not constitute either an audit or a review made in accordance with International Standards on Auditing or International Standards on Review Engagements, we do not express any assurance on donation receipt for the period covered in our assignment.”
The report did not pinpoint corruption, but created serious doubts about the transparency of PTI’s fund raising. According to conservative estimates, one big public rally costs more than Rs 10 million.
“We believe in transparency,” said senior PTI leader Umer Cheema. “Whenever we receive a complaint of wrongdoing, we take immediate and strict action.”
After countrywide tours, the PTI plans to display its street power in Islamabad once again on November 30. The party chairman already has already warned that it is going to be a decisive battle with the federal government.
Meanwhile, the war of words continues. Information Minister Pervez Rashid accused the PTI chairman of having links with terrorist. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the so-called son of Rawalpindi, came to his rescue. He claimed it was Mr Nawaz Sharif who used to have ties with terrorists.
Sheikh Rashid is a face of Mr Khan’s revolution. He has recently threatened to immolate himself like Mohamed Bouazizi of Tunis. What he forgot to mention was that unlike him, Bouazizi had never been part of a dictatorial regime.
Shahzad Raza is an Islamabad-based journalist
Twitter: @shahzadrez
The director general of IB, Aftab Sultan, refuted the brazen allegations. He said his organization had not given even a single penny to a journalist during his entire tenure, and volunteered to present the details of the IB’s accounts to the Supreme Court for the satisfaction of detractors like Mr Khan.
Up in arms, journalists across Pakistan have rejected the allegations of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman. They ask him to provide evidence and identify the black sheep in their herd. It looks like Mr Khan does not have evidence. He only has a microphone, a container as his stage, and a horde of supporters. He can make allegations against anyone he wants to.
The PTI information secretary, Dr Shireen Mazari, who happens to be a journalist and a defense analyst herself, almost contradicted the party chairman. While admitting the PTI did not have evidence of journalists receiving bribes, she said generalization should be avoided.
Admitting mistakes is not one of his traits
But Mr Khan is not apologetic. He never was. His critics say admitting mistakes is not one of his traits. He never apologized to his cricket team players who equally contributed to winning the 1992 World Cup when he failed to mention them in his victory speech at Melbourne. He never apologized to the nation for backing a military dictator in the 2001 presidential referendum. He never apologized to the PTI founding members like Meraj Muhammad Khan whom he dumped a long time ago.
Many journalists and writers who face smear allegations by Mr Khan were associated with the profession long before he became a politician. The way he weighed journalists was itself questionable.
Mr Khan does not seem to remember that it was two veteran prime time anchors who filed a petition in the Supreme Court to get the IB’s secret funds abolished. They are now critics of Mr Khan.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has repeatedly asked Mr Khan to either stop badmouthing journalists or present evidence. The PTI chairman, who survives on candlelight but travels on helicopters, turns a deaf ear to such calls. He has a group of followers that believes everything he says and does not need evidence.
Meanwhile, allegations of financial irregularities within the PTI have also surfaced in the media recently. The allegations were made by a party renegade and founding member Akbar S Babar. In 2011, he requested the chairman in writing to form an accountability committee to hold corrupt office-bearers accountable. Nothing happened.
The so-called Freedom March, the three month long sit in, and whirlwind rallies across the country must be costing the party dearly. The PTI runs fund raising campaigns inside and outside the country. The party chairman has already requested people to donate to refuel the revolution.
A special audit report of PTI accounts read: “We (the auditors) were not allowed to take photocopies of bank statements along with other data including financial statements with us. These were shown to us but no record was allowed to be retained by us.”
The same report concluded: “Because the above procedures do not constitute either an audit or a review made in accordance with International Standards on Auditing or International Standards on Review Engagements, we do not express any assurance on donation receipt for the period covered in our assignment.”
The report did not pinpoint corruption, but created serious doubts about the transparency of PTI’s fund raising. According to conservative estimates, one big public rally costs more than Rs 10 million.
“We believe in transparency,” said senior PTI leader Umer Cheema. “Whenever we receive a complaint of wrongdoing, we take immediate and strict action.”
After countrywide tours, the PTI plans to display its street power in Islamabad once again on November 30. The party chairman already has already warned that it is going to be a decisive battle with the federal government.
Meanwhile, the war of words continues. Information Minister Pervez Rashid accused the PTI chairman of having links with terrorist. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the so-called son of Rawalpindi, came to his rescue. He claimed it was Mr Nawaz Sharif who used to have ties with terrorists.
Sheikh Rashid is a face of Mr Khan’s revolution. He has recently threatened to immolate himself like Mohamed Bouazizi of Tunis. What he forgot to mention was that unlike him, Bouazizi had never been part of a dictatorial regime.
Shahzad Raza is an Islamabad-based journalist
Twitter: @shahzadrez