US dispels notion of funding Pakistani media outlet

Published May 12, 2014
The US embassy, in press release, has termed recent statements alleging foreign funding for Jang group as “misleading or inaccurate.” – File Photo
The US embassy, in press release, has termed recent statements alleging foreign funding for Jang group as “misleading or inaccurate.” – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Terming recent statements by political leaders and journalists alleging foreign funding for a specific Pakistani media outlet as “misleading or inaccurate,” the United States on Monday clarified that the embassy provides funding and support to a broad range of organisations to facilitate professional development and capacity building activities.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had announced complete boycott of Geo TV and the Jang Group for allegedly helping the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerge victorious in the 2013 General Elections.

Khan had also lashed out at the media group during his Sunday’s speech at D-Chowk in the federal capital, where the party staged a protest rally against alleged rigging in the May 11 poll last year.

The boycott coincides with the tensions simmering between the embattled media house and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) over the channel’s treatment of allegations levelled in the wake of the attack on senior journalist Hamid Mir.

The press release, issued here said the US government strongly supports vibrant, professional, and independent media in Pakistan as they do elsewhere globally. The US government assistance supports Pakistan’s media sector broadly, to include a range of print, broadcast, and radio formats, it added.

Naming services offered by the US to media representatives, the embassy said that these programs are not targeted to any one media group, but are geared towards supporting the community of journalists as a whole.

These programs aid the efforts of journalists to pursue balanced reporting and accurate messaging on events in Pakistan and elsewhere, said the press release.

“Suggestions to the contrary are inaccurate, and aim to mislead,” it added.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.