Arshad Sharif, Shaheen Sehbai slam CPNE for justifying false publications

ISLAMABAD: Senior journalists, Arshad Sharif and Shaheen Sehbai have criticised the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) for giving justifications over the publication of false stories.

Arshad Sharif and Shaheen Sehbai have reacted to the CPNE media statement regarding its concerns over the indictment of some journalists in the affidavit case of former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) chief judge Rana Shamim.

The CPNE’s December 30 press statement read that the office-bearers have expressed concerns over the indictment of some journalists in the Rana Shamim affidavit case despite they showed good intentions to reveal facts before the nationals.

Rana Shamim contempt case: PML-N comes under IHC radar

It added that such steps are considered against the freedom of expression on a global level. The council had demanded the judiciary to review its decision for indicting the journalists in the case.

Reacting to the CPNE statement, Arshad Sharif expressed outrage for backing the journalists who are involved in the publication of false stories.

He said in a Twitter message, “Publishing a false story without verifying that the judge of Islamabad High Court was not even in the country? From false story of Justice Sharif murder, JIT exonerates Nawaz Sharif to affidavit of Rana Shamim, same story of falsehoods. What kind of journalism is that?”

Publishing a false story without verifying that the judge of Islamabad High Court was not even in the country? From false story of Justice Sharif murder,JIT exonerates Nawaz Sharif to affidavit of Rana Shamim,same story of Falsehoods.What kind of journalism is that? https://t.co/DKIdiRnwpC

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) December 31, 2021

Responding to a tweet of Dawn News Editor Zaffar Abbas in which he requested the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah to review the decision for charging journalists like Ansar Abbasi for contempt. He said, “Sir, journalism is not a crime. If I had access to this affidavit, I would have done exactly what Ansar did—do a story after proper verification of its authenticity.”

Affidavit of Rana Shamim, Situation Becomes Serious for Jang Group and Ex Judge

Arshad Sharif slammed his statement, saying, “Here comes Editor @dawn_com to justify publishing a story without verification of a fact that #IHC judge was not in the country. He would also publish an affidavit that Dawn is owned by #Modi #IslamabadHighCourt maligned by peddling false story. Journalism is about facts.”

Here comes Editor @dawn_com to justify publishing a story without verification of a fact that #IHC judge was not in the country. He would also publish an affidavit that Dawn is owned by #Modi #IslamabadHighCourt maligned by peddling false story. Journalism is about facts. https://t.co/8L7kWZMovB

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) December 31, 2021

The former group editor of an English daily, The News International, Shaheen Sehbai censured CPNE, saying, “CPNE FRAUD: I have been Editor/Group Editor for many years but never once was I a member of this fraudulent gathering called CPNE. It is run by newspaper owners who have become editors and thus APNS and CPNE are both lapdogs of owners, nothing else. This statement means nothing.”

CPNE FRAUD: I have been Editor/Group Editor for many years but never once was I a member of this fraudulent gathering called CPNE. It is run by newspaper owners who have become editors and thus APNS and CPNE are both lapdogs of owners, nothing else. This statement means nothing. https://t.co/LpBXL5ffIX

— SHAHEEN SEHBAI (@SSEHBAI1) December 31, 2021

In the recent developments witnessed a few days ago, the IHC had decided to frame charges against Rana Shamim and others on January 7.

On December 13, Rana Shamim had submitted the affidavit to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) following a warning of contempt case if he fails to submit the original affidavit.

Allegations against ex-CJP: Rana Shamim to face contempt charges if he fails to submit affidavit

Rana Shamin had claimed that he signed the affidavit alone in which he accused former CJP Mian Saqib Nisar of manipulating the judicial matters to deny bails of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

The revelations had been made in a ‘leaked’ affidavit that was published in a report of Ansar Abbasi, an investigative reporter of ‘The News’, on November 10 to which Shamim’s counsel admitted that the content of the ‘leaked’ affidavit was indeed accurate.

Rana Shamim had levelled serious allegations against ex-CJP Mian Saqib Nisar of committing judicial manipulation by making a call to an IHC judge in which he had asked him to deny bails to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz besides seeking to ensure to keep them in prison until 2018 general elections.