The case of the missing minister

A reporter can talk to any senior leader of the ruling party and can even have access to the prime minister’s office, if need be. But one can barely ever reach Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, save when he wants you to reach him — which is when he holds a news conference or two. Of late, the interior ministry staff has begun to follow suit. “We will not talk to anyone as directed by Chaudhry Sahib,” is the reply an overworked, deadline-ridden reporter receives while trying to get comments from any official of the interior ministry.

This elusiveness is not a new tactic of Chaudhry Nisar. He, as a leader of opposition in the National Assembly during the previous government’s  tenure, was often inaccessible to the media. It is irksome to note that one cannot contact Chaudhry Nisar no matter what the occasion or news story is. On the other hand, I, as a reporter, have been in regular contact with his predecessor Rehman Malik, who was an easily reachable man.

No doubt, there is no comparison between Chaudhry Nisar and Rehman Malik with respect to their statures in their respective parties, political background, political insight and charisma. Malik was media-friendly but did not bring revolutionary change to the interior ministry in five-year stint. Even that ‘media-friendliness’ was not without its ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. His staff only allowed certain journalists to enter the ministry premises. Even so, I appreciated that he always responded to my queries. This is what a political leader should do.

No doubt, Chaudhry Nisar is a different man who prefers merit and encourages honest officers. But, senior officers of the interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency are asking a question: “Why does the minister not listen to them?” Indeed, there are reports the ministry staff themselves cannot access their boss. Personally, I have no complaints about the interior minister as he always responds to my queries and has given feedback on my stories. I appreciate his feedback, which has encouraged me and other journalists to produce balanced stories. Still, the interior minister must remember that a responsible minister should not shy away from the Fourth Estate.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2014.