The politics of leaks and different scandals is at its peak in the country which has badly affected the trust of the nation as a whole. Audio and video leaks belonging to the politicians have already damaged the ethical standards of the country’s politics. The latest leak of PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz and Pervaiz Rasheed using abusive language against senior journalists for not favoring them is a serious matter of concern.
On Thursday, addressing a presser PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Thursday confirmed the authenticity of the new viral audio clip in which she could be heard managing a panel of a news program with former Senator Pervaiz Rasheed.
Speaking during a press conference after a meeting of the PML-N in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz refused to tender an apology over her leaked audio in which she was speaking with former information minister Pervaiz Rasheed and calling journalists “barking dogs.”
She was asking for an apology from those who leaked the video. Ironically, she had no regret for using such unethical language.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) had strongly condemned the “highly immoral and indecent remarks” made by PML-N leaders against journalists in the alleged audio leak, asking them to apologize to the media across the country.
In a statement issued, the CPNE took great exception to the purported conversation in the audio and emphasized that senior journalists and other media persons, including anchors, had the right to express their views, asserting that no pressure on the media and journalists would be tolerated.
There are multiple factors which are needed to be deliberated on when talking about these kinds of serious issues. Firstly, the freedom of media should not be compromised and the political persons must refrain from entering into the domain of journalism and should avoid trying to dictate any journalist, and must respect the opinion of every individual.
Secondly, the dignity of the media persons must be respected at all costs. Journalists are those who are striving their best to right track the country as per the constitution by identifying the issues.
Eventually, it is okay to have a difference of opinion but hurting the sentiments of others just for having a different opinion and identifying the issues, is terrible. Maryam Nawaz, whose appearance on media was the first in Thursday’s presser, where she could have apologized for the language used against the senior journalists but she didn’t.
Her demand for asking for an apology from those who leaked the audio was fine, but the journalists who were targeted in the audio had nothing to do with leaking the audio of PML-N leaders. It was the ethical responsibility of Maryam Nawaz to apologize for her conversation, and she must have done that.
Unfortunately, the politicians in our country have no courage to accept the mistakes and the unfortunate blame game is on. There is a dire need for media persons to join hands in defending the dignity of media and journalists.
