I’m now afraid that the ET will turn into just another paper that cares only about the bottom-line.
KARACHI: The Express Tribune has quickly established a formidable presence among Pakistani newspapers. I turned to it because I was impressed by its integrity. So far it has not shied away from publishing unpopular stories for the sake of populism. Thus I am now exceedingly troubled by your inclusion of Ms Shireen Mazari as a columnist for your paper.
I understand that newspapers with a particular editorial slant often balance out their opinion pages by including some opposing voices. Everyone from The Guardian to The New York Times subscribes to this practice. And certainly I have no objection to the ET hiring conservative or even ultra-nationalist or Islamist columnists.
My concern is that it you have taken someone who has been accused of having a compromised journalistic integrity. In fact, in her very first piece for your paper, she misrepresented articles of the Vienna Convention. To continue to provide her with space in your paper is highly unbecoming. What next? Articles by Zaid Hamid? I’m now afraid that the ET will turn into just another paper that cares only about the bottom-line, and panders to the establishment rather than those looking for real news and analysis.
Narushervan Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2011.
