Tazeen Akhtar
Anchorocracy is the new term that became familiar when dozens of TV Channels flooded the market without any training and check on them. These half cooked media organizations started disseminating information and analysis of their own choice and agendas. Current affairs talk shows were meant to brief the viewer about what is happening in the country. But unfortunately most of time they ignited anxiety in the society by making the guests fight each other to get the ratings. Further they forwarded the agendas of different interest groups through their programs only to earn benefits at the cost of truth. Now some of these anchors are so powerful that they provide protection to the mafias and their friends by hook or by crook.
Same was observed on 19-20 June 2020 when 2 renown anchorpersons literally invaded 2 police stations of Islamabad. They abused the Police officials for why they were doing their duty. Both of them exerted full pressure on the officials only to get favor for their friends who were proved guilty. They misbehaved with the victims of their friends and threatened them of dire consequences if applications against their friends are not withdrawn.
One anchorperson is Mohammad Maalik, President Hum TV and Second is Javed Chaudhray of Express News TV. First was for a lady and Second was for a land mafia.
Mohammad Maalik exposed himself in the case of Mehreen Zara Malik, who claims to be attached with some arab tv.
Mehreen, the resident of House # 64, G-6/4 Islamabad, on Friday night, called her neighbor , a retired gov officer Abdul Rauf and began abusing him only for his car was not parked where it was convenient for Mehreen. Her wrath on the neighbor could not end here and she went to his door where again abused him in the presence of unknown boys who were with the lady.
Abdul Rauf says that she was out of control and we were panicked as she warned that she has good relations with very powerful people.
The retired citizen called 15 to get rescue from the lady who was about to break his door and the car. When Police reached the spot, no boy could present the identity or purpose of their presence there.
Mehreen, here threatened the Police personnel as well but they took the boys and Mehreen to Police station Abpara. Abdul Rauf and his wife were also called to police station.
Here came Mohammad Maalik to “seek explanation” of the Police in the presence of SHO Shaukat Abbasi.
SHO was already intimidated by having a big anchorperson in his PS. Further he was pressed by Mohammad Maalik with his warnings that he will move everything to punish the police for taking his friend to police station. In the meanwhile, police received an application from Abdul Rauf. But Maalik saved his friend from further action and police let his friend go.
Abdul Rauf, aged 67 with chronic diseases, finally succumbed to the pressure tactics and surrendered his right to get any further action taken on his application.
Javed Chaudhary graced police station Ramna on the eve of 19 June 2020 with his presence in the favor of a land mafia named Sardar Zaryaab who is said to be involved in multi million rupees frauds with different people including one Omar Minhas.
Raja Kashif of 92 News and Ejaz Cheema of Online News
Agency were following an FIR of Omar Minhas ,a victim of Sardar Zaryab at PS Ramna with ASP Rana Abdul Wahab when Javed Chaudhary the anchorperson of Express News was also present there to save his friend or whatever. He not only abused both reporters but also provoked the accomplices of the accused to attack on the reporters. That happened before the eyes of the police officials.
Javed Chaudhary later took his friend Zaryaab away from police custody.
The reporters filed written applications against Sarzar Zaryab and Javed Chaudhary in which they have narrated the incident with names and references.
Here it is also worth noting that Mansoor Hayat Khan MNA, son of Federal Minister Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan was also present here along with his another brother to extend maximum support to the accused.
