Exclusive Flare Report Free download | flare.com.

pk

Dr. Abdul Jabbar

Director General Enforcement &
Executive Member of PEMRA

34
 Free download | flare.com.pk Flare Report Exclusive

akistan has climbed five places to This corruption is not

P number 42 in an annual list of the

world’s most corrupt countries,
Transparency International said in a
report last year. In its annual Corruption
Perceptions Index, the TI said Pakistan’s 2009
something only we are
aware off, any person
who has any interest in
newspapers and current
affairs would be aware of
Corruption Perceptions Index Score is 2.4, and of this case of corruption.
the 180 countries and in its ranking as the most We personally think
corrupt country, it has slipped five ranks, from that every person
47 in 2008 to the 42nd most corrupt country in affiliated with the media
2009. industry would be in
The Corruption Perceptions Index looks at knowledge of what
perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 PEMRA had been doing
countries and territories, - and is a composite in the past. We doubt if
index that draws on 13 expert opinion surveys. It there is any person in and
scores countries on a scale from zero to ten, with outside media who does
zero indicating high levels of perceived not know about the
corruption and ten indicating low levels of corrupt acts of Mr Abdul
perceived corruption. Majority of the 180 Jabbar in specific and
countries included in the 2009 index score below PEMRA as an
five on a scale from zero (perceived to be highly organisation.
corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of It is a custom to play
corruption). the blame game. We the
The CPI measures the perceived levels of journalist burn the
public sector corruption in a given country and midnight oil to break
is a composite index, drawing on 13 different scandals of national
expert and business surveys. The 2009 edition interest and all of a
scores 180 countries, the same number as the sudden the culprits claim
2008 CPI. that we are serving self-
In the light of TI’s report it is crystal clear that interest and the story has
the rate of corruption in Pakistan is increasing. nothing to do with them
The reason is simple – lack of accountability. Our as the news is false. This
government is bombarded with so many Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan attitude is certainly not
security, electricity, food and poverty issues that and making the corrupt people accountable to new. We are facing such
corruption could not gain enough attention. take back from them the national assets is a hope conditions from a long time but the authorities
However, corruption is the base of declining to improve our status. must remember that it is not so easy to suppress
performance of all sectors. Lack of accountability Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory the truth. By heavy fines and false accusations
makes it easier for the corrupt to slip from law Authority, PEMRA for the first time in the they can try to shut up one person but keeping
and legislation. Pakistan is under heavy loans history of its existence is the whole nation dumb is not that easy.
becoming efficient, their act of
efficiency is discussed in detail.
Unfortunately not in addressing
people’s problems but in serving
personal vendetta of a corrupt
executive. It is rather saddening
that the same efforts, if fully
utilised for the benefit of the
people, would bring a social
change idealised by millions of
Pakistani’s.
A complete detail of recent
acts of corruption in PEMRA
was published in the last edition
of Flare Magazine. We are
thankful to our hundreds and
thousands of readers for giving
us their valuable feedback.
People have not only
appreciated our efforts but also
acknowledged our initiative of
taking steps to practically
eradicate corruption from public
serving organisations.
We from our magazine want
to make a few points that would
clear a lot of things for all those
interested in this recent sage of
corruption. Firstly, Flare
Magazine was not the only
reputed paper that reported this
act of corruption by PEMRA.
The very same story was
published in “Daily Nawa-e-
Published in “The Nation” on December 20th, 2009 and Waqt” and “The Nation” as well.
Notice from PEMRA to Flare Magazine
available on www.nation.com.pk as well
35
 Exclusive Flare Report
Executive Member, PEMRA, Mr Abdul
Jabbar, is using PEMRA not only for his personal
financial gains but also to satisfy his personal
vengeance with those who dare to talk and to
report about his corrupt acts and uphold the
truth. As anticipated, a legal notice was recently
served against Flare Magazine making all sorts
of illogical and humorous claims by PEMRA. In
the legal cum defamatory notice served by
PEMRA they have claimed Rs 500 million in
damages, which is even more than the annual
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
Chief Justice of Pakistan
budget of PEMRA which is a little over Rs 400
million. The whole notice was full of petty points
which further reiterated our claim of their
corruption.
Whatever is said in the notice is debatable in
long and would be discussed in detail at an
appropriate forum. Right now we would like to
Ad published in the newspapers
Expression of interest (EOIs) invited for Award of Cable TV
Licence at District level
36
recall the memories of all concerned about the
biddings of Phase VII in which licenses for
Faisalabad and Sialkot were awarded to the only
contestants in bidding process. According to the
rules and regulations when there is only one
contestant obviously there is no competition and
bidding is put forward or halted till there are two
or more bidders in the process. When other
higher officials of PEMRA, also member of the
bidding team, pointed out the very point,
licensees for Failsalabad and Sialkot were
Yusuf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister of Pakistan
immediately suspended. Only after some kick
backs and back door deals were the two license
holders able to be a part of the bidding process.
Details of that incident are still sought and asked
by our peers in the radio industry. PEMRA itself
has the answer to everyone’s question in their
official records. Any literate and knowledgeable
person can go and verify our claims.
PEMRA has a habit of making decisions
without consulting the concerned people from
the relevant industry. Furthermore, the executive
member makes decisions haphazardly without
Ad published in the newspapers on Februrary, 11, 2010,
Expression of interest (EOIs) invited for Award of Cable TV Licence at District level has been postponed
even knowing what he is doing. The list of
irresponsible and corrupt acts by this corrupt
executive is not only confined to radio industry.
Just recently an advertisement appeared in all
the leading dailies of the country asking for EOI
from investors interested in putting up cable
network in various districts of the nation. Again
this decision was called off only after 15 days
after publication of the advertisement for the
Free download | flare.com.pk
EOI’s were cancelled. Sadly, just because Mr
Abdul Jabbar could not make up his mind
whether to go with the cable operators project or
not he first spend millions in advertising and
then just after 15 days spend millions again
cancelling the very same thing. Now how should
be held responsible for that?
Any sane person would definitely ask the
credibility of PEMRA while making such
decisions. Now what appears to a common man
is that PEMRA is so confused that one day they
Qamar Zaman Kaira
Minister for Information & Broadcasting
give an advertisement asking investors and few
days apart they cancel their own decisions.
Copies of the both the advertisements are
printed along for the interest of the readers.
We are aware of the circus that is being run
by Mr Abdul Jabbar and that is what we covered
in our previous story in the Flare Magazine.
What he does not realise is that he can not fool
170 million Pakistani’s. And he can certainly not
stop people from speaking the truth. We think
that a public sector organisation is established to
facilitate people and protect the rights of its
stakeholders. And if it is acting otherwise people
have the right to ask the public office holders of
their deeds and acts. Yes we as a responsible
stakeholder in the civil society do posses that
right. And we would certainly ask all corrupt
office holders about their personal interests and
gains and their decision making powers
especially when their decisions are made at the
cost of tax payers’ money.
Free download | flare.com.pk
Dr. Abdul Jabbar
Director General Enforcement &
Executive Member of PEMRA
We take this defamatory notice served to us
as an acknowledgement of our claims and look
forward for some betterment in the attitude and
behaviour of a public sector organisation. We
desire that our corrupt executive fear Allah and
Mr. Sohail Ahmed Chairman FBR
(Ex-Officio Member)
Dr. Muhammad Yaseen
Chairman PTA (Ex-Officio Member)
Qamar Zaman Chaudhry
Secretary Interior
Flare Report Exclusive
Mushtaq Malik, Chairman PEMRA (Left) &
Mansoor Suhail, Secretary Information & Broadcasting (Right)
serve people they have been hired to serve in financial embezzlement.
their best capacity. And instead of acting like a We are a responsible organisation and our
judgement passing court should perform their special report consists of truth only. Anyone who
basic duty of regulating media affairs rather than wants to investigate can find the truth with or
using government machinery for vengeance and
Mr Abdul Jabbar does not
realise that he can not fool 170
million Pakistani’s. And he can
certainly not stop people from
Dr Seemi Adnan Khawaja Dr.Kaiser Bengali
speaking the truth. We think Naghmana (Member) Chairman NAVTEC Member
that a public sector
organisation is established to
facilitate people and protect the
rights of its stakeholders. And if
it is acting otherwise people Mr. Umer Aziz
Member
Asad Jahangir Khan
Member
Mrs. Najma Najam
Member
have the right to ask the public
without us. Regarding the
office holders of their deeds defamatory claim made by
and acts. Yes we as a PEMRA against Flare
responsible stakeholder in the Magazine. We would like to
civil society do posses that bring this entire case in the
right. And we would certainly notice of the President of
Pakistan, Prime Minister
ask all corrupt office holders of Pakistan, Information
about their personal interests Minister, Chief Justice of
Ms Samar Minallah
and gains and their decision Member Pakistan, the Ombudsmen
making powers especially when of Pakistan and Chairman PEMRA, Secretary
Information, Secretary Interior, Chairman FBR &
their decisions are made at the Member PEMRA Authority of this tale of
cost of tax payers’ money. It is a marvellous corruption by a mere
custom to play the blame game. executive. 
37