Title: Govt to probe Maryam's media cell ‘confession’: Fawad
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Responding to PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz's “confession” of controlling the advertisements of news channels, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said that the government has decided to initiate a "serious inquiry" into the operations of the party’s media cell, being run by the former.
Addressing a presser in Islamabad flanked by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, he said Maryam doled out Rs18 billion from national kitty to reward “blue-eyed journalists and media channels” at federal and Punjab levels during PML-N’s last tenure.
Initially, Fawad said 15 members were made part of the media cell and later, Rs20 million were allocated for additional recruitment and the cell was mandated to run targeted media campaigns, he added.
“Handling of public funds by a private person is a crime under the jurisdiction of the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency), but also liable of disqualification,” he said while pointing out that Maryam had already been disqualified under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
The minister said Maryam’s admission had proved as to how the PML-N carried out 'systematic manipulation' of the media during its last tenure.
While responding to a question regarding her audio tape about media advertisements during a presser earlier today, Maryam had admitted that, "I was operating the media cell then, and I haven't said that it is a fabricated audio clip".
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— Ammad Yousaf (@AmmadYousaf) November 21, 2021
She said that the “leak audio clip” of former chief justice Saqib Nisar was proof of ex-top judge’s involvement in influencing the case against former premier Nawaz Sharif. The PML-N leader further said that Nisar had “murdered justice” and this alleged audio of his proved it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fawad in today's presser said: "The [PML-N] media cell was responsible for selling advertisements worth Rs15 to Rs18 billion to certain news channels, and different journalists and media groups".
LIVE #APPNews : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting @fawadchaudhry and Minister for Energy @Hammad_Azhar addressing press conference #Islamabad https://t.co/SIMmRwZd2M
— APP ???????? (@appcsocialmedia) November 24, 2021
"We will share updates of the inquiry with media in the next few days, as well as updates on the action taken [in this connection]," he added.
Also read: Fawad accuses Maryam of creating fake clips
According to Fawad, Maryam’s statement was a “confession of running the notorious cell and using public funds for this purpose, which was both unethical and illegal”.
According to him, "the cell was used to reward some channels and punish others, in form of awarding the ads".
Earlier, the information minister had said in a tweet that this was another confession of serious financial irregularities from Sharif family.
“Maryam says that she was running the media cell of the party… after this confessional statement, I hope she and her family will also acknowledge owning the foreign properties... the nation is waiting,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle.
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— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 24, 2021
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib also said in a statement on social networking site that Maryam Nawaz had admitted that she was the one who blocked the advertisements to control the Pakistani media.
“In what capacity Maryam Nawaz was using taxpayers’ money to protect her personal interest and theft… her hypocrisy on media freedom has come to the fore,” he tweeted.
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— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) November 24, 2021
PML-N's reaction
Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has issued a clarification on the matter, saying that Maryam’s statement was related to party advertisements. “It is an old audio in which Maryam Nawaz boldly told the truth,” she explained.
Also read: Contempt of court petition filed against Maryam, Abbasi
Aurangzeb further said it was the party leadership that decides about the advertisement. “She [Maryam Nawaz] admitted it because there was nothing to hide. When something is not wrong, it is openly admitted.”
She added that there was no need to create a storm on this audio clip and the focus should not be diverted from the “real issue”.
The PML-N spokesperson urged the rulers to respond to the alleged leaked audio clip of former chief justice which she said pushed the 220 million people of this country into “the hell of inflation and unemployment”.
(With input from APP)
Published Date: 24-Nov-2021
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