Anne Patterson Blocks Shireen Mazari
Anne Patterson Blocks Shireen Mazari
Jang Media Group has published a clarification. Which we have added below for you all to read
Jang Clarification Regarding Ms. Mazari’s accusation
A press conference of Dr. Shireen Mazari was reported in the newspapers of Thursday (September 3) in which it was indicated that The News International had been pressurised by the US Embassy into dropping her article, although it appeared in the same day’s issue. Some websites have also alleged that the US ambassador has written a ‘private’ letter to the Jang Group pressuring that Dr. Mazari’s article be dropped.
We are surprised that someone as familiar with the Jang Group’s editorial policy as Dr. Mazari — an official turned politician and Information Secretary/ Spokesperson of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf — should level such unfounded allegations. The facts of the matter are as follows:
* The US ambassador had sent a letter to the Jang Group complaining that in her article published in The News the week before, Dr. Shireen Mazari had levelled certain incorrect allegations that had endangered the life of a US citizen.
* In accordance with our policy, and accepted international norms, we referred the complaint to Dr. Shireen Mazari — for her feedback and comments.
* While this complaint was being investigated, Dr. Mazari sent another article on Tuesday (September 1), which was to be published the next day — that is on Wednesday. In this article she had again levelled certain allegations, which were also without attribution. Since certain contentions in the previous article had been refuted and were under investigation and she had not produced any evidence or reliable reference to prove the same (nor has she been able to do so till date), we reverted to Dr. Mazari and asked if she could substantiate these allegations. The concerned editor also informed her that her article had been referred to the concerned department to make sure that it was not libellous. As it happens, on receiving supporting comments from her, as well as advice from the concerned editor, the article was published the very next day — that is on Thursday.
* It is normal for embassies, political parties and other affected people and institutions to complain against perceived bias and the letter from the US ambassador was in the same vein. She neither asked us in the above letter nor any time in the past to drop articles by Dr. Mazari or by any other contributor holding similar views and writing for many years in The News. The ambassador also did not desire that the letter be kept confidential. While we take all complaints seriously, we allow them to exert no pressure on us or influence editorial policy or decisions. Therefore, at no point did anyone from the management or editorial staff of The News suggest to Dr. Mazari that this, or future, articles by her would not be published.
* We not only publish articles by some of the most respected columnists in the country, but as a matter of policy, give space to people holding strong and diverse opinions. Since years some of the fiercest criticism of US policies has been voiced on the pages of The News. We are sorry that she chose to go public with accusations that have no basis in fact. — Editorial Board.
Anne Patterson Blocks Shireen Mazari
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—United States Ambassador Anne W. Patterson intervened with one of the largest newspaper groups in Pakistan to force it to block today a decade-old weekly column by a prominent academic and critic of US policies.
Dr. Shireen Mazari, the former director of the Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies and a mordant critic of US blunders in Pakistan and the region, was stunned when her column failed to appear in today’s edition of the newspaper. This happened after the US ambassador sent a ‘private’ letter to the management of The News International, one of the largest English-language dailies of Pakistan.
The column did pubish today in The News, Ms. Mizari had made the allegations about it in Spetember 1st, 2009 episode of Kal Tak, where she mentioned how her columns were being blocked. I don’t agree with the writer of the blog stating it is not the fault of Newspapers, the media specially Jang group has bigger responsibility. They have the trust of the people who have standby them through thick and thin. Jang Group media should not censor the views of Ms. Mizari, it is very surprising that Jang Group has no problem publishing all the lifafa and yellow journalism yet find it neccessary to censor Ms. Mazari. I urge all to write to Jang Media group and record our protest.
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I hope Ms. Mazari also writes about the countless diamonds that are presented to Ms. Patterson aka bhonkoo b* as bribe from
Zard—aari on a regular basis. Anne could never imagine buying those diamonds under normal circumstances.
In lieu of this meherbani, Ms. B=bhonkoo B* tells Washington DC that ‘pakistan mein sub acha hai”.
Shame on Pakistani men. At least they could show 50% of the courage shown by this woman. Special shame on the Butt Brothers…unfortunately they lack more than courage. Can they be called MEN in the right sense?
What is more worrying is that some people expect them (Butt brothers) to lead Pakistan out of trouble. What a sad mess Pakistan has become. Incompetent leaders combined with a people not able to look through crooks
Keep up the good work Shireen Mazari! You deserve respect!
To All everywhere please pass the news to ur newspapers, i,e UK, USA, canada or wherever ur most newspapers and active blogs accept news tips. I have sent to huffington post, lets spread it people.
BTW Messiah admin same as Bush, Bush was mad at AL-Jazeera Obama admin mad at pak media lol
@Admin
You have been quick this time:-) I do not doubt that something like that could be enforced by the most powerful “democracy” in the world, but do you have any other reference than the “honorable” Ahmed Qureshi?
Btw: Should we call it American “democracy” or American “deamoncracy”?
@observer
After a phase of distrust on IK politics, Mazari brought some renewed faith on Imran Khan and meanings to justice in his party.
@nota
Yeah she said same think in Kal Tak. Too bad once again Media silent on issue that matters, how instead of that bagar billa imtiaz they talk abt Shireen Mazari, she is after all one of theirs too.
“Too bad once again Media silent on issue that matters,”
Apparently we only have a few brave people left in Pakistan. The numbers of brave people could explode if just we had competent leadership.
Bush’s Third Term? You’re Living It
By David Swanson
September 02, 2009 “TomDispatch” — It sounds like the plot for the latest summer horror movie. Imagine, for a moment, that George W. Bush had been allowed a third term as president, had run and had won or stolen it, and that we were all now living (and dying) through it. With the Democrats in control of Congress but Bush still in the Oval Office, the media would certainly be talking endlessly about a mandate for bipartisanship and the importance of taking into account the concerns of Republicans. Can’t you just picture it?
And I remember predicting all this in those heady days of Obama Change Fever. I know I am beginning to sound like Sheeda or Pir Pagara!!!!
I think both @nota and I also had the same feelings. Remember my comment about Obamba?
“He will prove himself more “white” than the white”.
I think we should start another business
My exact feeling on American Democrazy
I honestly feel those who like to draw distinction between the American Government and American people are mistaken. This story is consistent with the criminal behavior of Americans. May be someone will discover a crime gene. What do you expect decedents of criminals to be! Well I expect them to inherit the crime gene with variable penetrance and display criminal behavior in one form or other.
Someone who had to persuade people to believe that he was not Muslim despite being born to a Muslim family,to get votes,I have no respect for. Obama is a CIA puppet and has no say. Americans are messing everywhere in the world and they want it to go into Blacks’account and on top of it born in a Muslim family is an added advantage. Aik teer sey do shikar.
@Taukeer
You have to some extent been hoping for something “good” from PML-N. I know SM is not from PML-N , but this is a NATIONAL issue. Why hasn’t PML-N made it clear that American intervention reg. freedom of speech is UNACCEPTABLE? Do you think PML-N should have close interaction with the Americans, when (IMO) they should snub them i.e. don’t meet them on regular basis – at least make it clear that they are crossing the boundaries of decency. Shouldn’t they be sending clear signals that they are going too far? Or do you think it should be done secretly without letting the public about know the actual threats the Americans are making? Isn’t it better to have the backing of the public to show some strength to the Americans? Why all this “diplomacy” and “save democracy” BS?
Just to make things clear. I am not saying that the first option is a war with the Americans. I am saying that we need to give:
1. VERY resolute and determined response
2. If that doesn’t help then stop the supply routes to Afghanistan and throw out non-essential staff from the American embassy and off course send home the American mercenaries, “technical staff” and regular soldiers.
3. Use PAK influence to gather support against American adventurism.
4. If that doesn’t help then come what may come – even a war!
Maybe I got you wrong….What’s your take on this?
In fact I don’t blame the Americans most.
I blame:
1. The politicians
2. The army
3. The media
4. The educated class except the baboo(n) brigade ( they are excused since they are from another planet).
5. The West. They never stop to make allegations against Muslims for lacking behind in “freedom of speech”…..off course only on matters of their own interest….Hypocrisy!
@Observer Man take it easy. I am not PML-N spokesperson on the forum! I think anti PML-N rhetoric was becoming a bit too one sided.
They are playing a game with the Americans or the Americans might be playing a game with them!
Like you I would like them to take a very firm stance. But they are “reformist” not REVOLUTIONARY. Only a revolutionary will have the >>>>> to take the Americans head on.
I have spoken to their rank and file and I know when the time comes an over whelming majority will be on the side of the revolution. At least the people I speak to have the exact same concerns as we raise on this forum.
Time will tell and I hope will prove me right! And I am usually right!!! LOL!!!!
No doubt they will be qeueing up for their share and show solidarity since they wouldn’t want to destabilise their own government or their Quaids=NS+SS.
At that time we will see that they will make a lot of U-turns for the sake of “democracy” – just like PPP. Many “bitter pills” will be swallowed to show “restraint”, “reconciliation”, “save democracy”, “mufahamat” blah, blah …blaah
@Taukeer
“Like you I would like them to take a very firm stance. But they are “reformist” not REVOLUTIONARY. Only a revolutionary will have the >>>>> to take the Americans head on.”
Yaar, if you were a PML-N spokesman then you wouldn’t be in UK. Then you would be playing with $$$$$ and enjoying “good” company with the high ups in The Butt Team. If that happened you would run away screaming. I don’t believe you could work with such “sincere” politicians…lol
I am not asking anyone to take the Americans “head on”. War and other extreme measures are the last option! I am asking for decency and ask the leadership to say “enough is enough”.
What you are saying is that PML-N is waiting for their turn to make a government and then they will show their true colors??
The American morons are not that stupid to kill Shirin Mazari unless they can make it look like a car crash, even that is remotely expected. They will try some different method out of their 101 totkay to tame the enemy.
What surprises me is the media, media people behave like a bheegi billy infront of Hell-broker and khala Paterson because —-because they fear being black listed for America visas for them and their families. Hur shakhs ki pakistan mein qeemat hai and media is no different.We must all support Dr.Shirin Mazari and perhaps Observer can contact her and offer her our website to write. What say Observer?
@pak.nukes
Off course they are not stupids. They will ensure it is an “accident” of some kind or maybe they will ask Zardari to provide a “room” in an official building…..off course she will not be asked to pay rent as long as Zardari wishes to show his “hospitality”.
I second your opinion nota, these people can kill many others to kill one of their enemies. Long live Drones technology.
And if it is for bigger (evil) cause they can kill their own people too!
Remember their ambassador killed with Zia?
Exactly and also remember the 9/11 conspiracy which demanded many American lives too…..for the “bigger cause”.
@taukeer
I think PML – N should realize that all this criticism upon them is cuz we still have hope against hope of some good from them. Unlike Zardari and Co. At least I have no hope of any good coming from Zardari & co. I might have different opinion if BB was alive but the current leadership of PPP is nothing.
A revolution or head on collision is not the answer, the bloodshed is too much and usually at the end of revolution the one still standing become hardcore and extremist (watever form). We have seen it over and over, Russian revolution, french and Iran are recent example. Its better to reform.
And why not show some guts and little bit of bravery NOW. If a woman can stand up against the mighty force of Americans then why not PML-N leaders like The “idealist” Javed Hashmi, The “outspoken” Khawaja Asif and Khawaja Sa’ad Rafique and Quaid-e-tehreek and quaid-e-mohtaram NS+SS? Why don’t they write or speak against interference in PAK matters?
Why wait to extinguish the fire? Pakistan is burning now.
@Taukeer
It seems like you have good contact to some PML-N politicians. Could you please ask them why they are waiting to protest against the Americans? Are they afraid of not having the backing of the Pakistani people?
Btw: I am not blaming you for anything (I have no reason for that), but i am only asking you to show some of our concerns
Observer
They cannot stand up because they are hijras. Lets send them some bangles from sohnidhurti.com.
ahahahaaaaa Chumpa Kalis of Pakistan Politics. hehehe lol.
@nota
u mean this
Yaar, show some restraint. Not because of the clowns in PK politics, but because it is Ramadan
@Admin
I think you moved this important article too quickly. I expect more on this in the coming days. My suggestion is that you keep this story on the prime spot for a while.
its still featured article, the death of Pakistani national is important. This one right beside the headline
Yes I suggested the same thing but I think for that we have to change the theme.
Admin see if there is anyway we can put this headline along with that. Perhaps you can put this news as sub headline under Mazari’s news.
To All asking abt the headline. I can’t make subheadline as mayoos-paki correctly realized that we need to modify theme. Unfortunately I can’t do that looking for some professional to do it. I have removed some articles from featured carousel. So articles left are less and more pronounced.
@nota Americans believe in press freedom as they believe in Jesus Christ! It is all for show and no substance. Do you recall one of the Army generals (I forget the moron’s name) calling TV channels a few years ago asking them not to show caskets of american dogs on their journey to hell.
And that was just for some b*****ds killed in the battlefields. Buchanan committed blasphemy. Just watch what the American’s masters do to him.
Given this background I am not at all surprised if they try to export their version of press freedom to a client state as the Banana Republic of Pakistan.
Actually Huffpo and liberal bloggers jump but msnbc was swift so wasnt turn into big issue, Beside everyone know Buchanon dun like israel they cost him presidency lolz
Question is again why The News read Jang Media group is accomodating, its ok to blast USA but questions should be asked from Jang Media group for cesoring pakistani journalist, I mean the retards like Farrukh Saleem and Prof. Lifebuoy gets to air thier views, in the same media Ghamdi is allowed to distort Islam and Baigum Nawazish Ali has a show. We have so called columinist like abbas mehdi and Ata Ul Huq Qassmi who can only talk how good zardari and NS N SS respectively. So why is Ms. Mazari columns being censored. Its not unlike the others columinist she is talking without prove. Same goes in case of ARY Kashif Abbasi was off channel for 3 months on the demand of govt and ARY accomodated the govt.
I repeat: This woman is more brave than most Pakistani men!
Shireen Mazari: “the Americans can’t gag me in my own country.”
PPP and PML-N has “earned” so much respect that they deserve a gift…….yes, BANGLES for these shameful creatures!
US Gets Pakistani Column Pulled Over
The United States embassy in Pakistan reportedly managed to get the weekly column of a top critic of US policy pulled from the major English-language newspaper in Pakistan “The News International,” following a secret letter from Ambassador Anne Patterson to the newspaper earlier in the week.
The US embassy confirmed sending the letter but would not discuss its content. The newspaper’s editorial team said they were open to publishing the column at a later date, and indeed the article, entitled “Targeting Pakistan and Silencing the Critics” was made available on their website. Still, Pakistani media are saying that the embassy’s ability to block an article it found objectionable from a long-time critic of US policy is a sign of the enormous power the US wields in the nation.
Dr. Shireen Mazari, the author of the article, was interviewed on Iranian state media regarding what she called US censorship, and appeared to be not particularly surprised by the turn of events, though she insisted all the claims she made in the article also appeared in Western media sources, including Deutsche Presse-Agentur. She also vowed to continue her criticism of US policy, insisting “the Americans can’t gag me in my own country.”
Though Ambassador Patterson’s specific objections have not been made public, and she told The News not to publish her letter of complaint, it is widely assumed that Dr. Mazari’s references to Blackwater contractors being used on Pakistani soil was the source of the most vociferous objections.
A member of the opposition Tehreek-e Insaf party, Mazari was the director of a top foreign policy think-tank funded by the Pakistani government, though she was eventually removed from the position after what many in the Pakistani media believe was growing US pressure and warnings from the embassy that so long as she held the position they would treat her comments as official policy.
Following the furore over Dr. Mazari’s column, the Pakistani government officially denied that any Blackwater personnel were in the country, and insisted rules were in place to prevent such a thing happening. The US embassy declined comment, but last month former CIA officials revealed that the company had in fact been providing security on a Pakistani air base from which CIA drones were flown.
This is our pakistanis doing to us pakistanis in Pakistan. Noone to ask qts.
@nota
Fully agree. Jang has proved that they truly has something to hide. What a shameful act!
Removed one pic, Ramadan ka he khayal kar lo and sometime subtle mssg is more powerful
Hehehee nota often gets carried away.LOLZ
Ijaz-ul-huq wrote an article in The News regarding death of his father and hand of USA. Now one can argue merit of article and u can read it urself, what struck me was editor note which stated that the US has denied any involvement but alas! the article was already received by The news. Which begs the qts, so if they had received the denial in time they wouldn’t have published the article? Simply put it appears The News is being apologetic to US masters. Who cares US Ambassy denied or not. They can write a letter to the editor board and that letter be published like any other letter on the letter to the editor page. I am sure I have many complaints as Pakistani on the news sections of say NYT, does NYT make these small editorial comments with every article that is ANti-Pakistani? No, and noone is required to do that except a spineless news organization who is more concerned with what US will say then their own editorial integrity. Really Shameful from The News.
Here is the link: A conspiracy against my father
Ejaz ul haq ka moron baap jub 11 saal CIA k jootay polish kerta raha tau uss waqt yeh mardood kahan tha? Jo conspiracy iskay baap ney CIA k sath mil ker ki thi woh kaun kis ko butaey ga? Afghan Mujahideen ka baap zia bey huq khud tau mur gaya yeh apna jaheiz humaray leay chor gaya.
@nota
Isin’t She a member of PTI? And a party bigwig? How can Nation keep editorial Impartiality. But then again who cares abt that. All papers are biased to some degree as long as she declares her bias am ok with it.
@nota & Afzaal
I don’t doubt her abilities, but I have the concern as Afzaal that she represents a political party and thus there can be a conflict of interest. IMO she should stay away from such jobs to maintain her integrity!