Daily Times

The internet is on fire ever since renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil was unfortunately forced to apologise for highlighting a mere fact that media spreads false and fake news. While some social media users sided with the journalist community, a huge number of people emerged to support the religious scholar, while condemning the television anchors like Muhammad Maalick and Hamid Mir who pointed fingers at Maulana Tariq Jamil for calling media ‘liars’, and even demanding an apology from the anchors for insulting and humiliating the religious scholar.

The controversy started as, at the conclusion of a Covid-19 relief fund collection telethon headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and telecast live on all leading TV channels, Maulana Tariq Jamil, while leading a collective prayer, remarked that one of the main issues of our society is that we are ‘not speaking the truth’. He said media houses around the world, including Pakistan, tell lies and that organizations like media ‘need to be more truthful’, to avoid the wrath of the Almighty. As the telethon ended, some of the top anchors, who were present during the telethon, launched a vilification campaign against the religious scholar and came down hard on him for calling the media ‘liars’, making him virtually apologise to media live on television.

Where a few anchors reacted strongly to Maulana’s remarks about media and made him apologize, a huge number of anchors, media personnel and showbiz stars also came in his support. #MaulanaTariqOurPride and #WeAreSorryMaulana and #HamidMirMaafiMango immediately started trending on Twitter.

“Spewing so much hate for a man of deen, a man who has always spoken of unity & harmony (especially amongst diff sects) Hes a religious scholar, not a scientist or a doctor. He still apologised, sthing none of us are used to. I’ve immense respect for him, always will #tariqjami- Meher Bokhari (@meherbokhari),” TV anchor Meher Bokhari posted on her Twitter handle.

Kamran Khan and Mubashar Luqman and Jasmeen Manzoor also came in support of Maulana Tariq Jameel. Kamran Khan apologized to the Maulana on behalf of anchors community. He further said that he feels ashamed that media has become a cause of distress and pain for him, adding that he, Ansar Abbasi, Meher Bukhari and Jasmeen Manzoor are standing with him.

Mubashar Luqman said that Maulana Tariq Jameel is a man of bigger character, a peaceful man and a peace preacher. He said that Maulana Tariq Jameel didn’t say anything wrong, as lies do exist in media.

The bashing of a renowned religious scholar for apparently speaking the truth has given rise to some questions. Where was he wrong in his remarks? Do journalists in Pakistan not have their own agendas and interests? Do they not take favours and even money from influential people and remain silent when it matters? Do they not own precious properties and spend lavish lives often funded by tycoons for hiding their truth or speaking in their favour? Even prominent journalists have said on many occasions that media has been sold to the highest bidder throughout the history and that spreading disinformation is part of media design and tactics.

Maulana Tariq Jameel surely does not owe any apology to anyone in the country. Neither journalists, nor women or his critics. He is one of the most celebrated religious clerics in Pakistan who is known for talking sense. In today’s day and age, when a person like Maulana prays for the collective good of Pakistan, there is a reason behind it. These tough times demand unity among us, not setting fire to our personal agendas.

As for those so-called senior journalists, they must realize that Maulana Tariq Jameel was presenting his views and opinions. When you talk about freedom of speech, why can’t you lend the same courtesy to him? Can’t he have any opinion or observation of his own?

This is a bias of the highest degree when some opportunist journalists asked Maulana Tariq Jamil to apologise for speaking simply the truth. It is, however, even more unfortunate that religious community, who usually are united in defending each other, didn’t protest over the treatment meted out to their fellow. In all this, there is a message for Maulana Tariq Jamil as well: speaking truth always comes with a price.