PCB media ethics under scrutiny after senior journalist's removal

PCB media ethics under scrutiny after senior journalist's removal

Our Correspondent

LAHORE: In a move raising serious questions about journalistic access and the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) transparency, Asher Butt, a senior sports correspondent for The News Lahore, was abruptly removed from the official PCB Lahore Media WhatsApp group. The action, taken without explanation, occurred shortly after Butt sought the PCB's official stance on a critical Auditor General's report detailing alleged financial misappropriations within the board.

 

The Auditor General's report, highlighted by renowned investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi, reportedly exposed millions in unapproved perks, billions in unrecovered funds, and questionable appointments within the PCB.

 

https://e.thenews.com.pk/detail?id=417313

 

When The News correspondent, Asher Butt, on the directions of his Editor, approached Amir Mir, the newly appointed PCB Director Media, for the board's version on these serious allegations, the response was evasive. In a series of WhatsApp messages (later deleted by Mir from the conversation), Mir stated: "This is my reply; (Common sense says only the finance department can prepare a reply on the first working day on Monday to this so I woll [will] have ti [it] share this if you want a response.)"

 

Asher Butt then informed Mir that The News would proceed with publishing the news based on the Auditor General's report, while advising the PCB to issue its official version after consulting its finance department. The conversation concluded, with his words whatever suits you but shortly after, Mir again sent another message: "You may have to approach the previous chairmen for their version because none of this happened during Mohsin Naqvi's tenure."

 

The very next day, on Sunday, Asher Butt, who was performing his professional duty in line with the norms set by the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP), found himself removed from the PCB media WhatsApp group.

 

https://x.com/ansaraabbasi/status/1945076990412722264?s=48&t=OWaLeervpLmaQyEe43GrPQ

 

Attempts to obtain a response from Amir Mir or other PCB officials regarding this removal and the allegations in the audit report proved futile, with no spokesperson from the PCB offering a comment. Even Mohammad Rafi Ullah, PCB chairman spokesperson did not respond.

 

Journalistic principles and the code of conduct mandated by the Press Council of Pakistan require media outlets to seek official versions from relevant offices. It is equally the duty of an organization's media department or spokesperson to provide their views or issue denials. Similar practice was evident in the PCB before Mir took charge after the resignation of Sami Ul Hasan. The PCB's apparent refusal to offer a proper response, opting instead for what appears to be a retaliatory action against a journalist doing his job, is deemed to be against the integrity expected of an institution as prestigious as the PCB. The News sought a version solely on the Auditor General’s report, not based on its own framing, yet the PCB's response was notably ambiguous and uncooperative.