A list of 155 other 'bribed' journalists will also be made public later. PHOTO: FILE
The complete list can be viewed as a PDF here, or scroll down to the bottom of this report.
The list of disbursements totals just over Rs177 million.
Many names of senior journalists and anchors are included in the list, some of whom have been added for being provided flights or accommodation as part of official delegations with government officials such as the former prime minister. A few journalists who did not choose to travel on the offered trips have also been included in the list, seemingly erroneously.
According to the rules and regulations, the purpose of the secret fund is only to obtain or uncover sensitive information necessary to protect ‘national interest/national security’.
It cannot be used for any other purpose, such as emergencies or incidental expenses. All withdrawals are supposed to come under specific heads and justifications.
Another list of 155 journalists who took gifts and payments from the information ministry will also be made public later.
A spokesman of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified that secret funds have no link with Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), tweeted Radio Pakistan.
Background
SC Judge Jawwad S Khawja remarked during the April 11 hearing of the information ministry secret funds case that Rs300 million was apparently given away to a private television channel.
Journalists and members of the civil society demanded the Supreme Court make public the names of the private TV channel that received Rs300 million from the information ministry and of all those journalists who allegedly received huge payments from the ministry.
Complete list
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the amount disbursed in billions.
COMMENTS (84)
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what about those who take money from foreigners?
@Haseeb Khan: to receiving of the fundings
@ali:
Or Rs. 60 millions for Institute of Regional Studies over 2 years (last page)
Probably extra highly paid anchors of leading channels get their bellies stuffed-in both from their houses and potential purchasers.
3.7 Karor Paid to M/s Midas Ptv. Ltd. just to promote Banazir Bhutto Song? I appeal all Pakistanis to wake up, open your eyes and mind and use your wisdom. Reject the corrupt politicians and vote clean candidates in order to make our beloved country Pakistan a progressive country.
I am 50 years old, I have been associated with PPP and later I was thinking PML (N) will deliver but regret to say both parties didn't do anything for Pakistanis but did lot of efforts for themselves and their relatives only.
In the current situation, to be honest to Allah, the ultimate option is now Imran Khan - PTI and I request all of my brothers and sisters to vote PTI, just for the sake of Pakistan.
Good Luck,
What about those who receive envelopes (Lafafa) from the politicians and protect their political aims openly on T.V. There is no journalist who may be pointed as an honest and not-purchaseale. This is a shamefull as well as awsome situation.
Payment to widows can be condoned. The remaining beneficiaries must never, ever show their face in public or be invited to a public forum, party, or seminar among others. Salams
I am shocked and ashamed at these journalist.Now let the government also come out with list of Plot given to journalist. There should be social boycott of these journalist
@Indian: On the CNBC Pakistan programme, it was a show on business in Pakistan aired internationally, intending to show Pakistan in a positive light. I don't see any problem with that expenditure.
All the big hypocrites will be on the next list of 155, if it ever gets published. This is just a smoke screen to take the sting away. Where is the puke bucket?
I used to respect the taseer family but after seeing shehrbano taseer name on the list im devastated.
@Jibran: "I guess the list dates back to 1990s, and includes the provincials governments as well." . What made you guess that particular year?
@Ali: "After the list is disclosed politician will have chance to breath and word “Vibrant Media” will be more clear" . Can jolly well be renamed as "Trembling Media".
Wrong head line by tribune. Its not the list of 282 journalists but 282 items. Many journalists like Saleh Zafir appear many times in the list. BTW who is this religious scholar Saeeda Naveed Zuhra Bukhari who got 6 lacs of air tickets from public funds?
Can someone please add up the money spent on Mr. Syed Sajjad Shah, APNA TV? He's all over the place.
Very clear that Media is bought by special interest groups. How can they ever be fair or unbiased? When will the full accountability of the Media and its special funding sources begin? If you start putting people in jail then sorry to tell you you might have to put over 25% people of Pakistan in jails for smallest crimes to biggest like murders.
Notable: They are not 282. They are 243 in total.
Serial #73 to #110 are missing from the list. The list jumps from serial #72 to #111.
It's no surprise that there are many lifafa journalists in Pakistan, but there are also a few with great vision and integrity. As someone has pointed out, this is just an expense sheet from the Info minister. How about the list from Malik Riaz? ISI/ISPR? US? Together, all these expenses has helped create a false narrative about Pakistan and its history.
I Want My Tax Money Back That's it "Iss Hamam Mein Sab Nange Hein"
I demand to see tax return of all above listed so called journalist
@Noman Ansari: how insensitive? Really not funny.
@Noman Ansari: don't you think his family has suffered enough? how insensitive can you be.
All Journalists have second and third sources of income. Some get it from own Government, others get it from foreign Governments and agencies. Lower staff and crime reporters get it from people through blackmail also. Those who are getting it from the government are the best amongst as they do not bring damage to own State, but those who are on pay rolls of foreign agencies are most dangerous as they are neither exposed, nor they do any good for their own country. As a matter of fact, to counter the activities and propaganda of Foreign Paid journalists, Government is compelled to pay friendly Journalists. Those who did not get paid and are working for foreign agencies proceeded in courts to counter the efforts of Government of Pakistan
The question is spending of public funds on journalists. Is PPP government the only entity in recent Pakistani history that has done it? What about public funds of military agencies & provincial governments expended for this purpose? What about judicial relief given to big media groups? This disclosure of journalists names is selective morality, with a sole purpose of hurting PPP image among general electorate. I feel that it will not have the desired effect, as this disclosure has political connotations.
Only a couple of noteworthy payments... the amount given to Midas for Benazir Bhutto song, CNBC for This Week... We're making a mountain out of a molehill really... However, the omission of items 73-100 is fishy...
Thats tax money !!!! I am so angry that i am going to become Hulk all over again :/
There are cases of bribery but some of them are reimbursements and should not be confused with bribery
The fat cats are now out of the bag, though partially since other names are still on the way. Look at the electronic media esp News Bulletins of various channels this evening who did not make it the Lead Story in hourly bulletins. They must return all this amount being the TAX PAYERS' money. "APNI BAARI AAEY TO MEDIA KAISEY KHAMOSH HO GAYA". People of Pakistan have seen their faces and no one can mislead them now. Is this not the CORRUPT media???
@Indian
And your journalists are paragon of Virtue, right?: LOL
Haji Nazir Naji is also there. Shameful. Don't give lectures to others.
@AA: Why I m not being reimbursed Rs 100,000/- for special assignment. if this is so insignificant then I m also deserving these reimbursement of poor tax payers.
@Omer
If you don't know Mateen then u should make an effort to know him very good journalist.
Why one earth was OUR tax money used to pay for a benazir bhutto song. 37 million for a song????
one thing we note here is that media reporters from various channels hailing especially from Multan were taken along the prime minister's international visits. Former PM was very gracious upon them.
Don't get it 37 million for a song and why salaries from secret funds. What was secret about them or this is a makeup list
itna sanata kyun hai bhaiiiiii,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, why there is no breaking news on any channel sor far?????
thats why everyone found 62/63's implementation so offensive. How about the rest of the journalists, a lot of them seem to be beneficiaries from other local and International entities. If fake degree holders can be given a clean sheet, I am sure the journalism bodies will also work something out (aka Muk Muka), GEO Pakistan.
@Aysha:
Malik Riaz? ISI/ISPR? US? This is just one source.
Sohail Warraich is also there.. Kia ye Khula Tazzad nahin?
Beyond Shame. Miliions and millions given in 'financial assitance' to journalists to churn out establishment propaganda, most of which is against Pakistan's own good.
have more interest to know the assets list of big anchors from last 10 years
@Aysha: Kashif Abbasi hails from a wealthy family. This is a matter of public record.
The only problem we should have is with the "financial assistance to rich journalists" lol apart from that I do not have problem with other stuff. If the government is paying for a media conference or paying the widows of murdered journalist, I do not think that is misuse of funds. :)
Given the bashing PPP government was getting from the media, I always doubted the federal government was bribing journalists. On the other hand, media and the judiciary has been very quiet about the PML-N government. The provincial list will definitely not be that clean.
Financial assistance thru discretionary funding and more or so, benazir bhutto song? Lacks transparency as it should be coming from another account. Poor public money management. Shame on you!!
Why would the courts make it a point to publish the names and details of even the widows who have received tiny benefits? It is all fair and good to disclose the names of those journalists who made money but not the salaries, expenses and aid to widows. In addition if none of them is punished then it is simply slender. Why is SC and some other agencies are beyound audit? Everything sould be open if there is any equality.
I wonder what is Saleh Zafar's "special assignment"? Many references to it in the list.
Media Commission of Supreme Court: 4,000,000.
Jazakullah. Everyone is a Hajji. This tells why judicial commissions are so lucrative.
Saleh Zafir on top
Now ! cheer up pakistani nation, you have been informed about the "Black Sheep" or :Yellow Journalists" who have sold their consciences just for money, knowing that all the universe and materials will fly up when the Dooms Day comes, it was obligatory, 'cause the Media had thought that whatever they're doing is beyond accountability. They had used to ridicule our politicians, judges, patriot people and the functionaries. It's the time for us to laugh at them. Sir, Winston Churchall had asked during war time if their judiciary is working? giving justice to the people? "Yes" they replied. I can't believe that such educated, and gentlemen-looking male and female journalists had also been indulged in these type of corrupt practices and unfair income earnings, Alas the the Day when the people came through this bad news ! It reflects that the Elite Governing class has made all of us and our people a "MANDI",,,, Ya Allah ! show us the Right Path,,, Aameen and Inna Lillah e Wa Inna Ilehe Raji'oon.
37 million rupees on a song for a dead person(Bhutto Song), Rs 25000 for the person( Singer Reshma) who is alive and being treated for cancer and who represented Pakistan all over the world. Go figure!
@Noman Ansari: why focus on sunil tripathi alone?
15-7-2011 -financial assistance paid to mehmoodd hamdani 200000 23-7-2011 zahid amir randa - 500000 26-8-2011 mr ashraf - 400000 30-9-2011 CNBC - pakistan this week 35000000 7-2-2012 mian nadeem 200000
here is one interesting fact , how much does 500 diaries cost? 27/2/2012 m/s saeed book bank for supply of 500 diaries 238,500
8-5-2012 saeeda naveed zuhra bujhari , religious scholar for air ticket 300267
24/5/2012 paid to press club narowal print media 1000000 24/5/2012 paid to press club narowal electronic media 1000000
on 25/5/2012 500000 has been paid to "anonymous person" there is no name. 11/6/2012 saeeda naveed zuhra bukhari religious scholar for travel 305175
from what I see there has been huge amount going to narowal and saeeda naveed zuhra bukhari . Dear pakistanis your journalists are the most corrupt people in your institutions.
@Aysha: Because popular anchors get more than a million rupees salary from channels. After 4 or 5 years with such salary, I dont think it would be difficult to buy an apartment in UK.
Better late than not. Finally the true face of " Reformers " has become apparent. There are only two people in the world who can be termed as honest, the one who has died and the one who is yet to born.
Most of these are reimbursement of expenses. Nothing significant
I am lucky that I never wrote in favour the PPP government. I hope there is no record of cash transactions.
is it just me or is it really disgraceful that govt paid 37 million rupees of taxpayer's money to midas pvt ltd to run "benazir bhutto song" ...SEE ENTRY 146... WOW! CAN ANYBODY TELL ME IF THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT
Sohail Warraich
lol, just lol.
Why were 35 million rupees spent on a song titled "Bhutto Song" from the public coffers? ECP should take note.
Not much of an explosive thing. But it is a good step in the right direction.
Secret funds from here and secret funds from there !!!
@Nusrat Javed: Your name is on it?
@Omer: Please go and search my write-ups on Google. You will find me over there.
By the way, I write for print media and for leading English daily newspapers of Pakistan.
As Musharaf is being charged with Treason, so should these journalists, who engaged in mis-leading the nation.
Shame on them
How did Kashif Abbasi manage to buy an apartment in the UK?
@Syed A. Mateen: Who are you?
Nothing will change... We have instances and examples of Journalists (and even judges) getting multiple plots. Some have even performed Hajj afterwards. One of them even gives excuses as to why he took plots, and then he returned it. The same white haired journalist with gives sermons to the government about honesty, and openly boasts his association and closeness to the present COAS, as well as a political party.
ET censored my comment when I asked about the journalists on the payroll of ISI. This is shameful!
This journalists list is like the Asghar case of politicians. The SC should also obtain the funds "donated" by foreign governments for the "welfare" of the "needy" Pakistan journalists, including the favors in kind, usually packed in glass bottles.
That list will be fake. Dont believe it.
wajahat name will also be there definitely!!!
Making public the names of secret fund beneficiaries will also be of great value for the students of journalism to know how the Media Sociology works in Pakistan.
We want big fishes not small one who recive less then one lac .
Must publish and must inform public who took bribe to write bogus article in favor of corrupt govt.Poeple of Pakistan should know who mislead the nation
I guess the list dates back to 1990s, and includes the provincials governments as well.
let's see the real face of "5th Pillar of the State". Hopefully we will get to see the list being discussed in all the TALKSHOWS.
Simply awesome and the best timing of this "anchorleak"..:)
This seems interesting...... :)
Sunil Tripathi is one of them.
Forget everything.....focus on the list
Cant wait to see the big names (who criticize the govt day and night), getting perks to write in the favor of govt.
Thanks God, I do not take any payment from any person, corporation or the government when I write in the newspapers.
My opinion is independent, blunt and without any obligation from any one.
This the way all the journalists should work.
After the list is disclosed politician will have chance to breath and word "Vibrant Media" will be more clear.