EXCLUSIVE WITHOUT 4 Ws ONE H – Postmortem of a Story on the Integrity of Pakistani Staff in Foreign Missions – by – Tazeen Akhtar

Tazeen Akhtar

The Police were at a loss as to how the case of theft be solved. They failed to find any clue and were about to collapse in confusion when a wise man came to their rescue. He solved the case in moments. He briefed the Police on whole episode of the theft. He said, ” There is a thief behind this theft. The thief came, picked up all precious items, cash and ran away.”

I came across a same story few days ago when a diplomat friend shared an item published in Daily “Islamabad Post” by its Managing Editor Mr. Ansar Mehmood Bhatti. It was same like the wise man solved the whole case of theft but still nothing was clear. The published story is about some wrongdoing in some foreign mission by what the author claims Pakistani staff. There is no clear information, names, mission etc but still it is the main story of the newspaper.

I found this story as another bomb for Pakistanis by another Pakistani…….Earlier the Bomb was exploded by a Minister in the Parliament (Ghuam Sarwar Khan of PTI Gov) that majority of Pakistani Pilots have fake degrees and now a Pakistani Editor has blasted it in his newspaper that Pakistani staff in Embassies are Corrupt.Later all the pilots were cleared as qualified and we look forward that this half cooked and mostly concocted story will also not affect most of Pakistani staff because they perform their duties according to the directions of the heads of the missions.

I am editor of newspapers in Islamabad for last 2 decades. I am MSc in Mass Communication. I have taught Journalism at Foundation University and my lectures are available on Allama Iqbal Open University’s youtube channel.

Actually Pakistani staff have been made scapegoat by the Ambassador to save his own countrymen. I would have never touched anything of this newspaper here but as it is about the integrity of all Pakistanis and it can bring the same downfall on our Pakistani staff working in embassies that was faced by our genuinely qualified pilots, I am bound to analyze the material in this piece and check its authenticity.

I know that every news has 5 Ws and one H. What,Where, When,Who, Why and How. This is basic of journalism and report writing. One can read “The Story” of Mr. Ansar Mehmood Bhatti, Managing Editor of “Islamabad Post” that it has no answer to 4 Ws and H.

This story does not have any base.It is neither a news as well if we see it thoroughly and professionally as there is no mention of The Embassy and no name of the so called corrupt Pakistani staff has been noted.

Mr. Bhatti is supposed to be clear if he is, about the name of embassy and names of terminated staff. Where and When it happened? Who did it? and How? There is no answer to these questions and editors in the newspapers throw away such stories as they call it Table Stories.

Majority of Pakistani staff in Embassies and everywhere are performing their assignments sincerely and transparently. Above all , according to the directions of the Head of Mission and the officers of that country. Pakistani staff do not do anything on their own. If there is something wrong happening, their foreign colleagues or officers are equal responsible for that and they should also be punished and made public as Pakistani staff is exposed as if Pakistanis are for granted only.

Mr. Bhatti has noted only one W, that is What. He writes that the staff was indulged in import of Cars and Liquor Quota. We know the working in embassies and we know the crimes Mr Bhatti has mentioned can not be committed without the connivance of the foreign staff of the embassies.

He has mentioned that the Nationals of that country were also involved in the wrong doing BUT here again omits his responsibility to mention the status of the foreign nationals , let alone the names. Moreover the piece (Story) does not clear about what has been done with those foreign nationals? How they did it? How many cars they imported? How much Quota of Liquor they imported? Who they sell it? Who they had correspondence in Pakistani Foreign Office with?

Mr. Bhatti recalls one ambassador who was involved in the same wrongdoings and shares the ambassador was removed from service. Here again he conceals the name of the ambassador. Why ? When you have already published about him and he has already been removed , what is important in not mentioning his name?

As I remember , while working on diplomatic beat for last 2 decades, Mr. Bhatti had specific work on 3 embassies. 1- Romania 2- Bulgaria 3- Argentine , I know some of his work on Tajikistan, Egypt, Greece as well but presently we will see about first 3 only and that because he himself has created the necessity of response by creating “The Story” raising big question mark on the performance of all Pakistanis. It is about Collective Integrity of our Pakistan and Pakistani Staff.

Romania and Argentine were the two very active embassies in terms of social cultural activities in Islamabad when Mr. Emilian Ion and Mr. Rodolfo were posted here. Mr. Bhatti had good relations with Mr. Emilian and not good with Mr. Rodolfo who once shared with me that Mr. Bhatti is not doing good with him. Later both parties reconciled through the mediation of Ch Shahzad Akhtar who appeared at diplomatic scene thanks to his connections and hosted some big events in Islamabad.

Both spent more than a decade in Islamabad that is rare among the ambassadors. Mr. Rodolfo was Dean of Diplomatic Corp while Mr. Emilian was Dean of EU. Mr. Rodolfo had developed deep relations with Pakistani businessmen and civil society in all major cities. He wanted to remain posted in Pakistan till his retirement and after retirement he was ready to live here for good.

Man proposes and God disposes ! Mr. Rodolfo had to go back. Every one who comes , one day one has to return to one’s real abode. We say in lighter note ” Ambassadors cry two times in their life ! Once they get posting in Pakistan ! Second when they are transferred from Pakistan.

Mr. Roumen Pirontchev of Bulgaria was also long serving ambassador in Islamabad. He was on good terms of Mr. Bhatti when he got his transfer orders. Mr. Aleksandar Borisov Parashkevov was posted in his place and soon after that stories of his corruption started appearing in Islamabad Post and Diplomatic News Agency DNA. Finally he was transferred abruptly in Oct 2020.

Mr. Aleksandar Borisov Parashkevov

We always take Ambassadors and diplomats as our guests. They serve their countries in their own capacities and limits. We need not interfere or be curious into their affairs. We are supposed to work on the promotion of bilateral cooperation only.

We can file and publish story only when our Foreign Office or the Embassy itself shares the details on record with all particular information. This is not Pakistani politics to shot sixers always. It is about Pakistan’s relations with the World community.

On the other side, Ambassadors and diplomats should also avoid using media persons to settle their own scores if any with any. Foreign Office and Excise Department can see who were doing “The Wrongdoing” mentioned in Mr. Bhatti’s article.

Finally the folly made by the Minister of PTI was exposed soon saving our pilots , the fault of this piece will also be seen accordingly as I have tried to elaborate the whole fault line and our Pakistani staff will also survive the negative impact of this “Story” like our pilots did after irresponsible utterance of our minister.

(Note: We will publish any response to our article if it is based on facts , figures, particular, specific information if anyone including Mr. Bhatti intends to share )