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Arsalan Iftikhar case: Mysterious list of journalists surfaces

Published: June 12, 2012

List contains names of eight prominent media men.

LAHORE: 

By the looks of it, the judiciary and Pakistan’s largest land developer are not the only ones whose reputations are on the line in the case involving alleged money received by the chief justice’s son. 

A mysterious list has been distributed on the premises of Punjab Assembly which put forward some explosive allegations – containing the names of some eight prominent journalists that allegedly received money, plots and other facilities overseas from real estate tycoon Malik Raiz.

While it is still unclear who distributed this one-page photocopied list, it has generated immense interest among intelligence agencies, sources familiar with the development said.

The list is mired in mystery given that its distributor disappeared off the scene soon after giving the list to some reporters at the Punjab Assembly. The paper reads: “The following list was leaked from Malik Riaz’s office and it contains the list of anchors and journalists who received funds.”

According to this list, out of the eight journalists, as many as four anchors/columnists belong to only one media group.

The journalist listed atop this list received some Rs28.5 million in three installments through National Bank of Pakistan including a luxury car (a Mercedes Benz).

While no one immediately verified – or denied – the contents of the list when contacted, there was immense interest generated by the issue. While the case remains in court, the buzz around the alleged involvement of some members of the media industry has generated as much interest as the involvement of the principal players themselves.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2012.

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Reader Comments (43)

  • ReHaN
    Jun 12, 2012 - 8:27AM

    Here it is :-)

    Recommend

  • Hafeez
    Jun 12, 2012 - 8:35AM

    Seems like Pakistan is going to be cleaned of some of the mess

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  • Ashraf P
    Jun 12, 2012 - 8:46AM

    Pakistan is being ripped apart. What the future holds could well make 1971 seem like a walk in the park. The only thing that held Pakistan together for all these years was American aid and arms. With that gone, the seams are starting to show.

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  • Imran
    Jun 12, 2012 - 8:50AM

    ET show courage, print names!!!!

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  • random
    Jun 12, 2012 - 8:55AM

    Pakistani media is as corrupt as the politicians. the irony is that we the people believe everything they tell us

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  • Omer
    Jun 12, 2012 - 8:57AM

    This is our free but corrupt and biased media. Finally, people should start to get disillusioned.

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  • PTI till death
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:01AM

    This is just the beginning. Get ready for more explosives. Game over for “fake liberals”.

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  • Zain
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:01AM

    Lets hope one day God considers us worthy of an honest and just ruling class! Looking at the current state of the people of Pakistan, I don’t think they deserve one

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  • binary-zero
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:11AM

    I guess you are little too late. The list is widely available on internet from many many days and some have called that the content is wrong (See last night’s Bolta Pakistan).

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  • zafar
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:11AM

    Those who daily give the whole nation lessons of morality, ethics and justice are finally exposed, things have started coming out, let see who are involved???

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  • yellow
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:13AM

    Publish the list at least

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  • AN Malik
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:22AM

    Can you share those names please?

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  • JA
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:26AM

    who are those journalist? why ET is protecting ‘em?

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  • usmani
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:28AM

    Why to hide the names of the anchors.

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  • G.Haider
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:29AM

    Wow,Good journalism! The news item is about a list of journalists who benefited from the generosity of a business tycoon and it contains no names.Code of ethics is only for journalists and not for politicians and ordinary people who are declared corrupt and criminals with out any proof in every talk show.

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  • Amman1
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:45AM

    as a matter of fact the yesterday’s news…about the foreign journalist….it might have some facts as well…….i am smelling it…a big thing is being cooked…..

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  • Nasir
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:53AM

    Can anybody tell these names please ?

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  • M.S
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:58AM

    Names please!

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  • Aristotle
    Jun 12, 2012 - 9:59AM

    Please meniton those name Express… We want to hear the truth…dont try to save those media so called anchors…

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  • Jun 12, 2012 - 10:01AM

    It appears as Malik Riaz is going down and is taking everyone (on his payroll) with him!

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  • sibghat mansoor
    Jun 12, 2012 - 10:22AM

    everybody will be exposed now….I wish SC pursue this case and we come out with some result….

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  • Manzoor Ahmed Khan
    Jun 12, 2012 - 10:29AM

    Why not publish the names? Isnt it a case of media saving media people.Recommend

  • SimHum
    Jun 12, 2012 - 10:30AM

    Can we get the names on that list

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  • RHK
    Jun 12, 2012 - 10:35AM

    It will be no shock if the man on top of the list wll be the one who talks the most about ethics and fairplay.

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  • Usama
    Jun 12, 2012 - 10:44AM

    Now pakistan is going to be clean from all these mafias.. Inshallah one day we have our pakistan neat and clean..

    GOD bless CJ…

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  • Hammad
    Jun 12, 2012 - 10:51AM

    Media at this point in time is the biggest monster in Pakistan. I hope they meet their rightful fate.

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  • Fahad
    Jun 12, 2012 - 10:58AM

    Why havent the names been published in the newspapers yet? Where can one find the names?

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  • AV Bhagowal
    Jun 12, 2012 - 11:00AM

    I think the better course for the Malik’s office is to leak out a list of prominent
    people who have not received any favours from him.That would make it easier for us to judge this corrupt society.

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  • Oopsie!!
    Jun 12, 2012 - 11:02AM

    ET didnt hesitate in declaring Umar Gul harboring a terrorist; why so kind to journalists about whom everyone already knows!! :) why ET why?

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  • amir
    Jun 12, 2012 - 11:37AM

    We suffer from amnesia. Short term memory. In a few weeks, everyone is going to forget about it. It will be wipped out clean, especially if media is involved in it.

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  • gp65
    Jun 12, 2012 - 11:47AM

    For those that are asking to list the 8 people’s names – as imple google search will give you those names. http://pakideology.com/funding-to-journalists-and-anchors-from-malik-riaz/

    This does not mean all those names are true. Since Tribune does not have any proof that the allegations are true, it is appropriate that such information should not be shared.

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  • helpless
    Jun 12, 2012 - 11:49AM

    Pakistani media is NOT unbiased, fair, educated and educating readers/viewers, transparent, etc.

    Many media barons have other businesses and have jumped on the media bandwagon and started channels/newspapers (with black money?) to achieve blackmail power to malign/destroy reputation of any person who may try to expose them. Many media moguls have their own axe to grind.

    Much of Pakistani media are engaged in yellow journalism. The screaming and screeching headlines renew memory of the yellow journalism American media was engaged in at the time of US-Spanish war and war jingoism.Recommend

  • A J Khan
    Jun 12, 2012 - 12:14PM

    Mr Arsalan should apprise the nation or write a book on his achievements on ” HOW TO EARN MILLIONS IN RECESSION” when big businesses are closing , skilled people are fired and companies are having tough time to survive.
    It will definitely become a best seller in the Capital Market and will earn him more than what he has earned so far. .

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  • B J Khan
    Jun 12, 2012 - 12:16PM

    @Usama:
    Mr Arsalan is CJs son. I hope you know it.

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  • Parvez
    Jun 12, 2012 - 12:57PM

    So what’s new ? The fact that the news spreds like wildfire thanks to the electronic media.
    How much is fact and how much fiction is still an old story.

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  • Hamid
    Jun 12, 2012 - 2:01PM

    Media bubble is about to explode much like so called leaders of Pakistan

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  • Z.Khan
    Jun 12, 2012 - 3:00PM

    List is already out.It is quite disturbing moment. If it proved true then at least my trust on the tycoons of Pakistani media will suddenly fall with irreparable damages. Oh my God save the reputation of this land of PURE.

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  • Anonymous
    Jun 12, 2012 - 3:41PM

    @B J Khan: Wrong
    He is son of supreme court

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  • Anu
    Jun 12, 2012 - 3:43PM

    @Oopsie: because they are pen friends?:D:P

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  • anonymous
    Jun 12, 2012 - 3:49PM
  • Ajamal
    Jun 12, 2012 - 4:25PM

    Doesn’t make any sense why Malik Riaz would pay SR 28.5 million and a Mercedes Benz just to buy a journalist?

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  • Jun 12, 2012 - 6:59PM

    justice demand we must know names of those characters.

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  • zeeshan
    Jun 12, 2012 - 8:06PM

    we all should thank this Malik Riaz for he managed to show us the real faces of those so called credible anchor persons, the way most of theml are trying to give clean chit to the corrupt tycoon, it shows their character. Malik Riaz could not speak for 03 minutes but look at the so called media and its characterless anchors who have staged timeless analysis shows, glorifying his cheap and meaningless crap. Thank u Malik Riaz u have proved again that money can buy everything. Recommend

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