Media watch: Doubting sincerity

Media criticises PM's remarks on giving plots to parliamentarians, while pointing out flood related governance issues.

Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.

Politics of plots

The politics of plots, however, seems to be all the government can think about. Former information minister Sherry Rehman has told us of plots given to seven 'friends' of the PM and the president in 2009. There are also reports of journalists awarded out of turn. Attempts to 'buy' favour by granting plots or other perks have become an ever-more consistent part of our 'political process.' (thenews.com.pk)

PM’s cold indifference

It is a typical example of the PPP-led set-up’s shameful tendency to indulge in a loot-and-plunder spree. The whole world is blaming us for being thoroughly corrupt, doubting the manner in which we intend to spend their donations on flood victims, and the government is giving them the message that its bad reputation was only well-deserved. (nation.com.pk)

Media and politics

The play of politics is depicted as a dishonest and dishonourable business. Politicians are assumed to act out of self-interest rather than on the basis of political convictions. It is repeatedly claimed that politicians are not to be trusted because they make false promises. Reporters and anchorpersons pit political opponents against one another as a means of undermining all political claims. (dawn.com)

Flood tragedy

Even though the flood waters have receded, the flood victims in Pakistan are still drowning in misery with the approaching winter, lack of coordinated relief efforts, water-borne diseases and general mismanagement, adding to their ever-increasing troubles Internally, Pakistan has been plagued with issues of governance and an already shambolic infrastructure badly damaged by the floods. (pakistantoday.com.pk)