Pakistan

WikiLeaks fact-checks Mubasher Lucman on Twitter

Lucman left red-faced when WikiLeaks responded to Lucman's tweet on MQM's 'Indian funding'

Web Desk June 29, 2015

PHOTO: TWITTER

News anchor Mubasher Lucman faced an embarrassing moment earlier in the week to say the least, when WikiLeaks denied his claim of a conversation he had with the organisation's editor-in-chief Julian Assange.

Lucman, who is no stranger to stirring up social media controversy, was left red-faced when WikiLeaks -- the international whistleblowing organisation -- responded to Lucman's tweet on MQM's Indian funding.

“Julian Assange was right when years back he first shared with me that MQM was paid by Indians.”

Julian Assange was right when years back he first shared with me that MQM was paid by Indians
— Mubasher Lucman (@mubasherlucman) June 27, 2015

But Lucman's claim were quickly shot by WikiLeaks.

“Mr. Assange had not said such a thing,” WikiLeaks tweeted in response to Lucman’s tweet.

@ejazchfanclub @MansoorFL @mubasherlucman Mr. Assange had not said such a thing.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 27, 2015

Further, WikiLeak's also responded to a tweet requesting the organisation for its documents on MQM.

@nadeemmalik Here are our documents on #MQM https://t.co/NTzX5ojLpA
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 29, 2015

Lucman’s tweet came days after a BBC report claimed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was receiving financial and logistical aid from India.

Read: Karachi unrest: MQM received funds, training from India, BBC

In the age of digital media where information can easily be saved, tracked and authenticated, one would think people would be more careful but it seems Lucman is yet to learn his lesson.

Read: Mubashir Lucman suspended for 'off-air' comments: Report

In June 2012, the TV anchor was suspended for the comments he made ‘off-air’ while interviewing business tycoon Malik Riaz. Behind the scenes footage showed Lucman and his co-anchor Meher Bokhari talking to Riaz and Bokhari was heard saying a question is planted towards the end of the video.

The footage showed conversations between Lucman, Bokhari and Riaz focused on the kind of questions they will be asking. Both anchors were also instructed against interrupting Riaz during the interview.

Read: Supreme Court issues contempt of court notices to Mubashir Lucman, ARY CEO

Further, in September 2014, the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to Lucman for airing a show that contained language critical of the judiciary.

COMMENTS (17)

YA | 9 years ago | Reply Unfortunately ML has to serve his masters

Ismail T | 9 years ago | Reply Oh t r i b u n e. you and g e o need to stop bashing others now. BOL is gone, so relax. No need to write the history of these journalist.

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Always Learning | 9 years ago | Reply @Hasan Askari: Unfortunately not on the run Askari sahib. There is a specific purpose their misinformation serves very well. In any case Julian Assange told ML now, give a few days, they will lie again, which is true for a number of anchors who are falling over backwards to fill the gap left on TV by ML.

Hasan Askari | 9 years ago | Reply Lifafa update Another lifafa "shahid masood" has been exposed today. London police has denied that any statement exist of Tariq Mir. It is a fake document. Shahid masood is on the run...along with luqman

doom | 9 years ago | Reply It's generally safe to assume that anything coming out of him and his show is a mish-mash of blatant lies, half-truths, and utter drivel. It's generally safe to assume that about most of the "analysts" we have, actually.

ali bakhtawaer dheenga | 9 years ago | Reply Guys i could nt find the tweet in offical wiki leaks twitter.you can check your self.I am not mubashir supporter but this news is fake.just check your self wikileask official twitter.you will not find it there

Bilal | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistanis, in general, have this habit of name-throwing and spreading falsehoods in the hope that they will not be found out. Even if they are, they don't really care because their purpose was to prejudice the minds and in that they generally succeed. Not all of them would read about the rebuttal either. So some of the lies will stick.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply MQM is and has always been working against the interest of Pakistan and probably had caused more damage to the people of Karachi then good. People of Karachi are perhaps worse off now but certainly no better off then they were 30 years ago, but this is beside the point here. Generalizing Mubbashir Lucman that he is wrong and he might very well be wrong at this instance doent not make MQM good all along.

Jor El | 9 years ago | Reply @Salman - SK: "Pakistanis should not be so shocked as they seem to be at these reports of funding from India." Forgive me if i sound confused, but r u saying that India paid Mubashir Luqman to allege that MQM has been recieving funds from india???

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @Hasan Askari: One would like to see MQM to be a successful political party which is able to lead its supporters in the right direction and bring Pakistan out of the current quagmire. Unfortunately it's image has become tainted because of its alleged connection with Pakistan enemies. It will have to do some soul searching and clean itself if it thinks it has some destructive minds who instead of working for the prosperity of people keep playing mohajir card to achieve their nefarious objectives. As for Lucman, he should be taken to the court if there is evidence of bribery.

peer bux | 9 years ago | Reply Very nice news reports

z | 9 years ago | Reply We should not forget and forgive his role during Niazi's dharna adventures! Mubashir distributed sweets (mithai) during his show on a private channel. I hope there will be a judicial commission to probe dharnas and third umpire too. Pakistan Zindabad, PM paindabad.

ARIF khan | 9 years ago | Reply Mr.assange of wikileaks should bring Mubashar Lucman to court, so in future he should not Quote societies respected personality name falsely. Mr. Lucman is a hate spreader anchor,sensible viewer do not take him seriously.

Salman - SK | 9 years ago | Reply For faux pas such as this, journalists in the West are shown the door. And, this is no faux pas either; this is outright lying. But, neither his audience will stop watching him nor his tv channel will take action for this blatant misrepresentation of facts. So they deserve each other. Pakistanis should not be so shocked as they seem to be at these reports of funding from India. This happens more frequently than people can imagine; and both ways too.

Sham | 9 years ago | Reply I clearly remember him being Pro-MQM back in the days whilst taking that pointless aggressive stance to prove his points. He puts doubts in the viewers' minds without factual evidence. Only God knows how he's won awards in journalism.

sabi | 9 years ago | Reply He is a big liar and a shameless person.

Hasan Askari | 9 years ago | Reply He use to praise MQM during Musharraf days but now he is anti MQM At that time establishment supported MQM and at this time it is against MQM Moral of the story is that he is what people called "Lifafa" i.e. paid journalist It is matter of time we will see him praising MQM again - when new lifafa arrives in mail

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