We have so far tried to stay out of the fray between Ehtesab Bureau Chief Senator Saifur Rehman and the Jang Group of publications, because we were hoping that the mediatory efforts of a few senior representatives of the two press bodies of the APNS and CPNE would be able to soothe the troubled waters. But with both sides threatening dire consequences against each other and both having gone public about their respective positions, the chances of their finding a common ground have receded. While Senator Saifur Rehman has spoken at some length about the failure of the Jang Group to meet their tax liabilities and the Federal Minister for Information has accused Jang Group Chief, Mir Shakilur Rehman of over-sweeping ambition to become a media baron by securing from the government a licence for a TV channel, Mir Shakil has released the transcript of a conversation he had with Senator Saif. In the course of this conversation the Senator seemed to have promised Mir Shakil substantial concessions in taxes and custom duties if he agreed to relieve or relocate 14 of his top journalists to other jobs and adopt a policy more supportive of the government. Shocking as the revelation that this kind of a deal was even discussed may appear to the more upright members of the journalistic fraternity and indeed even to the common man, the question is why such an offer was made in the first place? Successive governments are known to have pressurised the press to make it more pliable to their policies by holding back government controlled advertising or denying to the less pliable papers the newsprint quotas to which they may be entitled. But always refused to knuckle under. They suffered huge financial losses but they fought for the cause of press freedom. The result therefore, is that no government functionary ever approached them with such or similar deals, even when their coverage of news and editorial policy was not to the liking of the then government. We do not know whether the Jang Group had in the past ever accepted such deals and reaped the rewards that  followed (which may have encouraged Senator Saif to try yet against the same temptation which has now recoiled on him) but we cannot but uphold the stand that newspapers have a right to choose their employees and aright to an editorial policy which is consistent with the dictates of Press freedom.

That leaves the charges of tax dues and black-marketing of newsprint, against them, unaddressed. The Jang Group has published its defence on both counts and has also taken the matter to the court. So we will only say that these issues should be decided on merit and according to law. No person or institution is above the law and newspapers are no exception. The latest news of the National Assembly Speaker, Ilahi Buksh Soomro having met the Prime Minister to sort out the whole issue amicably, can only be welcomed. One hopes that, as a consequence, the flurry of charges and counter charges now appearing in the Press will cease and prudence rather than passion will be allowed to prevail.

(10-3-1999)

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