If one is witnessing, journalism – which has already been marred by deep polarization and neutrality of a journalist is fast getting extinct – is going through the toughest time of its history, once a noble profession has also now turned into a shameless commercial venture and a potential tool to serve the ‘political agenda’ of a specific party.
Still two days are left to the nationwide general elections on February 8, all leading daily newspapers including Jang, Dunya, Express, and Dawn have been published with headlines as “Nawaz Sharif The PM, the people have given their verdict”.
Though it’s not the first time that the front page of any newspaper has been filled with political advertisements but certainly it’s quite unprecedented that a headline – which is the most important portion in any newspaper – has been replaced by a ‘News’ which is yet to arrive a few days later if ‘everything goes as per plan’.
Not only it’s highly unprofessional, unethical and distasteful on the part of these newspapers but it would also cast further doubts over the already tainted validity of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ahead of vital polls if it continues to turn a blind eye to such malpractices especially favoring PML-N.
Even it did not go well within a section of journalist community which slammed this embarrassing portrayal of journalism.
Why would @pmln_org pay newspapers to call them prime minister and predict their victory. Aren’t they sure they are going to win this election? Why this misleading main page advertisement then? pic.twitter.com/ZsJzlfldhd
— Fereeha M Idrees (@Fereeha) February 6, 2024
میری بہن معصومانہ سوال پوچھنے کا استحقاق صرف اور صرف ہمارے پیارے ون اینڈ اونلی @WaseemBadami کے پاس ہے۔ https://t.co/rW5oujRkvp
— Khawar Ghumman (@Ghummans) February 6, 2024
This advertisement apparently violates elections ethics, norms & laws blatantly. The @ECP_Pakistan immediately should look into it. @SpokespersonECP pic.twitter.com/1bjZW53Pwr
— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) February 6, 2024
فٹے منہ وائی ایسی صحافت پہ اور ایسے فیصلے اور فیصلوں (اشتہاروں) کے عوض پیسے لینے والوں پہ۔
میر شکیل الرحمان صاحب کی ‘صحافت’ کو پیسوں سے نواز دو! https://t.co/cKWID0eUBp
— Shahid Aslam (@ShahidAslam87) February 6, 2024
آج صبح اُٹھا،تیار ہوتے ہوئے ٹیبل پر پڑے اخبار پر نظر پڑی اور صفحہ اول پر main سرخی دیکھ کر حیران رہ گیا کہ
“نوازشریف وزیراعظم،عوام نے فیصلہ سنا دیا”
میں حیران،پریشان،عوام نے فیصلہ سنا دیا،مطلب الیکشن ہوچکے،مسلم لیگ جیت چکی مطلب 8 فروری گذر چکا مطلب آج 9 فروری ہوگا مطلب میں 4دن…— Irshad Bhatti (@IrshadBhatti336) February 6, 2024
This is NOT journalism. pic.twitter.com/Ou4qjoIoHS
— Fereeha M Idrees (@Fereeha) February 6, 2024
یہ تو پرچہ آؤٹ ہو گیا https://t.co/fJGiDRsRhq
— Saqib Bashir (@saqibbashir156) February 6, 2024
صحافت گئی تیل لینے۔۔۔۔ اخ توووو ایسی صحافت پر pic.twitter.com/7Fg4xwyPTe
— Sheraz Ahmad sherazi (@Sherazi_Silmian) February 6, 2024
ہر اخبار پر فل صفحہ اشتہار: وزیراعظم نواز شریف
کیا صحافتی اور اشتہاری باونڈریز اس سے زیادہ blurr ہو سکتی ہیں؟ pic.twitter.com/2s61Yy3j02— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) February 6, 2024
میرے وطن کی صحافت کا حال مت پوچھو
گھری ہوئی ہے طوائف تماش بینوں میں pic.twitter.com/Kct4nAHXKh— Tariq Mateen (@tariqmateen) February 6, 2024
