Incriminating video: Rana Sanaullah lashes out at Bokhari, Lucman

Should be investigated where Mian Amir Mahmood [owner of Dunya News], Malik Riaz get money from, says Sanaullah.

LAHORE: Lambasting anchorpersons Meher Bokhari and Mubashir Lucman after a video of their ‘planted’ interview with businessman Malik Riaz had surfaced, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that journalists who criticise others of misappropriation “have been exposed,” Express News reported.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Sanaullah said, “The nation demands that justice be done to those whose on-camera faces are in conflict with their off-camera faces. The nation was astonished to see the video and wants to see justice being done to such journalists.”

He said that it majorly hurt the credibility of Dunya News channel that they aired a 2-hour transmission of a “scripted” talk show. “The video has revealed how the anchorpersons were receiving instructions on their phones.”

“It should be investigated where people like Mian Amir Mahmood [owner of Dunya News] and Malik Riaz get money from,” he said. “20 years back, Riaz did not even have the money to pay for transport fares, while Amir Mahmood only had a scooter for commuting. How then did they become billionaires … icons?”

The law minister recalled a speech that he gave when a resolution was passed against Midas Advertising agency and said, “I said on the floor of the House then that hardworking journalists should be accredited for making the media the fourth pillar of state.” He said that such sacrifices were not made by these “corrupt” people who abuse this freedom.

He further said that Mahmood was “tomorrow’s Malik Riaz” and that such “blackmailers” should be pulled out of the media on charges of taking advantage of it and attacking the freedom of judiciary.

“They have harmed the repute of the Supreme Court and have tried to disillusion people.”