ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s top newsmen seem to be on a collision course as seasoned journalist Rauf Klasra has moved Federal Investigation Agency against his fellow Mubashir Zaidi and others after the latter accused him of securing illegal allotment of a plot in Islamabad.
Klasra, who gives a hard-hitting analysis of the political scenario in his show ‘Muqabil’ was alleged by senior Dawn News anchor Mubashir Zaidi of getting a plot in the upscale G-13 sector of the capital during the stint of former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani, flouting the norms of journalism.
Mubashir Zaidi, who is quite active on Twitter hurled the accusation through the same medium, however, Rauf Klasra refuted the allegations and went a mile more by lodging a complaint with the FIA.
Klasra in his complaint also nominated four other respondents including Asad Ali Toori, UNDP employee Mrs Fouzia Yazdani, PTV official Shams Pervaiz and a web portal Dunya Pakistan.
https://twitter.com/KlasraRauf/status/931859418844684289
A snapshot of notice was also shared by the journalist, which was disputed by the Mubashir Ali Zaidi who claimed that he received no such notice while correcting himself that he was referring to the G-14 plot instead of G-13.
https://twitter.com/Xadeejournalist/status/931183465369931776
He responded that Klasra was resorting to lies in a similar fashion as he used to do on the television screen.
https://twitter.com/Xadeejournalist/status/931156820206542848
Zaidi also quoted a story filed by the reporter Usman Manzoor according to which the plaintiff got a plot measuring 500 sq yards in street No. 71, G-14/2 for which the provisional letter was issued on 29-01-2009.
https://twitter.com/Xadeejournalist/status/931172461563039744
To this, Klasra fired another salvo that the barrage of allegations was hurled by Mubashir Zaidi but the onus of proof was being deflected to Usman Manzoor.
مقدمہ FIA&عدالت میں مبشر زیدی کے درج ہوا ہے۔ٹوئٹر پرالزامات کی بوچھاڑ مبشر زیدی گروپ نے کی۔ گیلانی سے پلاٹ لینے اور ٹرانسفر کرانے کا بہیودہ الزام مبشر زیدی نے لگایا لیکن اب ملبہ عثمان منظور کے سر ڈال دیا وہ FIA&عدالت میں ثابت کرے۔
DawnTv کی “زرا ہٹ کے”والے سرکار کی نئی گگلی ?? pic.twitter.com/aCreEO0BiE— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) November 18, 2017
Though the renowned Urdu columnist insisted that he received no plot from Yousaf Raza Gillani, however, Mubashir Zaidi claimed that no such notice was issued adding that they had the proofs of unauthorised allotment.
https://twitter.com/Xadeejournalist/status/931123265862557696
In another tweet, the 92 News anchor alleged that the accusatory tweets made by Mubashir Zaidi were deleted by him.
https://twitter.com/KlasraRauf/status/931172372534657027
The Islamabad-based journalist clarified that not only FIA, but multiple petitions in separate courts were also filed. He also revealed his counsel Shah Khawar and Salman Qamar.
https://twitter.com/KlasraRauf/status/931166260154511360
Klasra also shared a document bearing signatures of judicial magistrate nominating Mubashir Zaidi and Fauzia Yazdani as respondents.
According to the journalist, Yazdani had alleged that the wife of Rauf Klasra was a ghost employee.
https://twitter.com/KlasraRauf/status/931163075818000384
He also detailed the cases initiated against scores of journalists pertaining to illegal allotment of plot.
https://twitter.com/KlasraRauf/status/931112838642454529
Let it be known that the allegations were hurled back in June, however, the proceedings have gained pace now and as the journalists are openly engaging in skirmishes on public platform, more details are expected to emerge in days to come.
The controversy started when a television show ‘Apna Gareban’ hosted by Mati Ullah Jan went viral over the internet in which Rauf Klasra was invited as a guest for clarifying his position regarding the rented houses he was occupying.
The show was broadcasted some 6 years back but, a recently, the debate regarding the illegal allotment and ‘unholy’ favours received by the influential journalists was reignited.
Another media veteran Javed Chaudhry also had a skirmish with Rauf Klasra over the same plot issue, however, no legal battle came to the fore at that time.
