From journalist to Seth — past and present

You asked whether institutions kept sleeping on Axact business but you, despite being an investigative journalist, also kept sleeping; throughout your career you continued to unveil scandals and the affected people continued to present their defence; now a scandal has surfaced against you and you are presenting your defence; the Axact issues are not because of media Seths; the first case against Axact was filed in USA in 2010 and as a result $1m fine was imposed on it and FBR and NAB had already taken up cases against it; you are expressing concern about young people working with Axact but why you are not concerned at the fact that these young people were made to do fraudulent work; by giving fake degrees all over the world not only Pakistan was defamed, you also usurped the genuine right of those who study year after year to get degrees; is it not correct that you have been lured by a lucrative salary package and position?
My dear Kamran Khan,
My name is Ahmed Noorani and I am a mid-career investigative journalist. I want to share my feelings and views with you because your recent TV interviews have left me bewildered. My mind is swinging between your past and present and I feel that you have poisoned the well you quenched your thirst from — journalism. Your recent TV interviews would benefit your business partners or not regardless, your paradigm shift has for sure betrayed the standards of investigative journalism in the eyes of journalists as well as common man on whose interest a journalist thrives. You have left me aghast with your new art of reasoning. To me your paradigm shift is the biggest story of the day because journalistic or intellectual dishonesty is worse than worst of corruption. I want to find out how come a media icon like you changed his professional outlook. If it were in my capacity, I would have conducted a TV show titled — Ghazab Sahafi ki Ajab Qalabazi (strange somersault of a big journalist), and Sir, your recent TV talk has given me enough meat to hold as many shows as you conducted with title “Ghazab Corruption ki Ajab Kahani,” but I would try to say it all in this letter. And when I say you have poisoned the well, I mean it because instead of weighing your words in the light of your own decades-long journalistic career with different organisations, you chose to defend an accused not by logic but by resorting to a well-known fallacy in the science of reasoning — poisoning the well — by killing the messenger you had always trusted before becoming a media owner. Let me explain my point further.
You were the top investigative journalist of my country. Ethics and principles of the profession of journalism suddenly changed for you right after you became a “Seth” and one of the owners of an announced media group. During your interviews in different talk shows, you defended Axact scandal of fake degrees by making such arguments which were exactly opposite to what you have been saying throughout your journalistic career, all your investigative stories and your stance that you used to present to defend your past stories on kickbacks and corruption of politicians, massive frauds or wrongdoings of business elites.
And all these arguments put forward by you, nullifying almost everything said or written by you in the past, were apparently because you were speaking as a “Seth” for another senior Seth (Shoaib Sheikh) to defend his business, and was not speaking as a journalist, who always honours dignity of his profession and upholds basic principles and ethics of journalism.
It is necessary to compare what KK you have been saying during your decades-long journalistic career with what you have said while talking in different talk shows on Tuesday evening and defending Axact’s involvement in the scandal of fake degrees, impersonation of US government departments and authentication of these degrees.
Following are your exact quotes from your interviews in different talk shows and their comparison with what you have been writing, advocating or saying in the past during your journalistic career and association with different news organisations including the Washington Post, Geo News, Daily Jang and The News.
You said, “According to experiences of your life as a journalist, the statement issued by FIA could not be trusted. Also news coming from sources in FIA could not be considered as credible. FIA should take such evidences to court. The statements made by police and FIA could never considered authentic.”
You made this statement after the FIA raid on Axact offices and recovery of degrees of many universities from there along with documents of the US State Department which were also shown by the media and after the US State Department’s official statement that that it has no link or agreement whatsoever with the company Axact in Pakistan.
However, during your whole journalistic career, you not only considered official statements by police and FIA against politicians, big business houses and others as credible but also always trusted information from police/FIA sources. Majority of your news stories were based on or have references of such police/FIA statements or information from their sources. Your stories against politicians or corruption scandals published in the Washington Post, Times and Newsweek mostly have references of such statements from police, FIA or other officials and you always presented those stories as credible.
The major question that arises is whether you were wrong in the past or you are erring now?
You said that you have been a regular reader of the New York Times and that no news published in this newspaper was ever source of contentment for Pakistanis. You also said that if you start considering these news items as true, you will lose your confidence in institutions and it would be hard for you to live in Pakistan.
However, in your analysis, countless news and investigative stories, you not only used to give reference of news published in New York Times by terming it trustworthy but also completely relied on these and other prominent foreign media stories many times. Almost the whole foreign media used to criticise Pakistan and policies of Islamabad and Rawalpindi quite often. Yes, it is true that you didn’t discuss each and every story that was published in the foreign media and avoided discussing those which could be problematic like those on personal issues. You used to analyse stories published in NYT and some other major foreign newspapers like Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Newsweek, London Times, etc, and present them as true and most credible. Not only this, after major scandals reported by you during your journalistic career, common people as well media persons used to comment that Kamran Khan was spreading disappointment among the masses. You always rejected such comments and continued reporting scandals and stories saying this was your journalistic work and it was your duty to report the truth and that if there was something factually wrong that should be specifically highlighted.
The question again arises whether you were wrong in the past or you are wrong now?
You said that Declan Walsh, the writer of the NYT story on Axact fake degrees international fraud, “was expelled from Pakistan for being involved in undesirable activities”.
It is interesting that after publication of scandals reported by you during your journalistic career, you had to face allegations including that of taking money. Allegations regarding money were once levelled by retired senior spy officers which off course you always denied. You were also alleged of working to fulfil agendas of different forces. You faced strong allegations after reporting big corruption scandals against politicians and big business houses. These circles alleged you of working against democracy and democratic dispensation when you ran a serious of programmes under caption “Ghazab Corruption ki Ajab Kahani”. However, you continued your work. People even used to say that you were spreading mistrust among the masses and creating doubts in the minds of people against the democratic government.
History repeated itself when a reporter like Declan Walsh, having credibility as a hardworking investigative journalist in international circles, reported a scandal with huge evidence and which was against your business interests. You simply did the same thing which people used to do against you in order to confuse the people and for diverting the attention from the real scandal. “Kill the messenger” was what you did by mentioning a past and irrelevant fact about Declan Walsh.
In interviews, you also said that instead of raiding the Axact offices, the government should have probed the case first.
On the basis of my recent study of your articles, however, even this statement is in complete contradiction of what you have been saying, writing or presenting in your analysis in the past. When there has been any raid, especially against politicians or business houses, you used to avoid opposing raid news items, rather supporting them at times and also used to reveal more and more facts about the case. But, you felt bad and considered it odd on Tuesday when your business concerns were not only raided but most of the fake documents mentioned in the Declan Walsh’s NYT story were recovered from the Axact premises.
These raids were against delivering fake education, related to cyber crimes, in a country where there is no cyber law. In such cases, data and evidence can be deleted or removed in moments and immediate raids were very much justified. Importantly, there are no reports of torture during raids and all those taken into custody were released after interrogation in a few hours. According to some reports, no server or computers were taken up for at least three days after the initial raids, which is highly objectionable and tantamount to giving opportunity to accused to remove all evidence. But, you still opposed the raids.
The question again arises whether you were wrong in the past or you are now?
Few people, who are like you, also commented that the government should not have conducted a raid in this manner.
It is interesting that these are the same people who used to support every activity, even undemocratic, if it suits them or fits in their frame of ideology. Such people vehemently opposed the raids which were conducted under the law and on the basis of strong evidences and circumstantial evidence. But, such people used to support dubious and anti-democracy activities.
You also said that in case of closure of Axact as a consequence of fake degree scandal, around 5,000 workers, educated boys and girls, having their families, will become unemployed in the present economic conditions of Pakistan. You said that because of the news, the workers of Axact were defamed.
When you used to report scandals against companies, government departments, organisations, business houses and politicians, did you ever think that those working with such companies/organisations will get unemployed and their children and families will suffer?
Had the germs of journalism remained in you, you would have commented that innocent youth was lured into doing wrong acts by offering them big salaries, perks and privileges, gyms, beauty parlour, swimming pools, etc. These young boys were declared deans of faculties of non-existent universities, heads of administration of non-existent universities and they were made to speak lies to other youth and convince them to buy a fake degree. The Axact people were destroying careers of youth on both sides; here in Pakistan they were training youngsters to speak lies as sales agents, an experience which is useless for them in their future lives and they can only become fraudsters and, on the other hand, youth taking these fake degrees was also destroying its careers. It was terribly dangerous in some cases. Awarding somebody an aviation or medical degree is tantamount to playing the lives of countless people.
Not only this, this has deprived countless competent and hardworking youth from their right as people with these fake but fascinating foreign degrees could easily get good jobs.
Is it ‘makafat-e-amal’ (twist of fate)? Had you ever thought before filing huge corruption scandals involving dwindling of billions of rupees and embezzlements that what will happen to mothers, sisters and families of those attached with political parties, big business houses, politicians, affected persons or organisations or what consequences they will have to face?
Had you ever thought during your journalistic career that by filing a story against prime minister of the country, you were defaming the government and ridiculing the mandate given by tens of millions of Pakistani citizens?
Whether all basic ethics and principles of profession of journalism have been changed now?
Should a journalist consider such aspects before filing mega corruption scandals having all undeniable evidence?
And shouldn’t all books and syllabus of schools of journalism need to be rewritten to accommodate these new ethics of journalism introduced by you, Pakistan’s former top investigative journalist.
Whatever, the question remains whether you were wrong in the past or you are at fault now?
You while defending Axact also added, “I am working with patriotic people at Axact. Axact management people are real Pakistanis. They have understanding of law more than anyone else. There should not be a media trial.”
It is however interesting that while filing stories of embezzlements and massive frauds, you never analyzed the patriotism or loyalty with people involved or being named in scandals.
Politicians, big business houses and other affected parties always remained crying that Kamran Khan (you) was conducting their media trial but you always continued with your work saying that you were doing your professional work and presenting evidence. There is no other journalist in Pakistan who has been accused of conducting media trials of organisations, companies, political parties, business-houses more than you. Today, you are making the allegation of “media trial” against others. It is a big question if you ever thought during your career what is a “media trial”?
After your Tuesday’s interviews in defence of Axact fake degrees scandal, the media community is seriously thinking whether you were correct in the past or you are righteous now?
You also said that according to your common sense, Axact could do no wrong.
Again the question arises whether during your journalistic career while filing thousands of investigative stories, you used to write stories on the basis of your ‘common sense’ or you relied on documentary evidence and credible information of your sources. Obviously, you relied on the later during your career. But, now you are trying to make conclusions on the basis of your ‘common sense’ instead of considering the presented evidence and proof.
Common people are confused whether your approach is wrong now or it was in the past.
While condemning the FIA raids on Axact offices, you asked were the government departments including the FIA sleeping during all those years when Axact was doing these illegal activities and business. You also objected why this news was taken up now.
The most pertinent question that arises here is why you, the top investigative journalist of the country, remained sleeping? A journalist sitting besides me commented that you were a social person. Your home is quite near to the Axact main office. How come you remained unaware of this massive scandal happening in your neighbourhood. But, you remained sleeping. Sir, in fact, you are even sleeping now.
Two days back, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed has commented that if a murderer is arrested after 20 years of committing murder, can he object why you had failed to arrest him 20 years earlier?
I have seen that you have filed scandals much after actual happening of the fraud or embezzlement.
However, ordinary people, especially media professionals are confused that whenever any such huge scandal unearthed in the past, you used to condemn the government institutions saying that such corruption and illegal activity continued because of the connivance of government institutions with fraudsters. You used to say a familiar sentence “Aesa sal-ha-saal say chalta chala aa rha hey, milli bhagat hey government kay idaaroon ki” (It is happening since years without any intervals and with complete connivance of government institutions).
When people used to ask why you chose a certain time for reporting a specific scandal, you used to say that you are a journalist. You got the information, confirmed it and reported. You used to say that you were unaware of such corrupt practices in the past and reported immediately after it came into your notice. Now you even object to the timing of the story and are simply forgetting your own past stance on the subject. You used to say, “khabar, khabar hoti hey” (a news should be considered as a news). A reporter reports only when he finds it. However, in the past, people never believed your statements and always considered that you were working on some agenda. In fact, it was not a case with you only and almost every investigative journalist has to face such situations. But the question is, how a person with more than three-decades of experience in investigative journalism will make such allegations against others which he himself faced and defended throughout his career.
You also commented that media’s excessive coverage is because of ‘Seths’.
Had you been ‘Kamran Khan’ of the past, you would never say that. You would have thoroughly investigated the whole issue and then make a comment. According to speeches of Axact CEO Shoaib Sheikh, you, Azhar Abbas Sb and some others are shareholders in this business and all of you were under legal obligation to investigate and thoroughly scrutinise the credibility and all working of Axact owners before becoming theshareholders. You never did that despite many sane advices of your colleagues and despite publication of different stories about the conduct and past of the Axact owners. I also know that it is a fact that you were also informed about tens of millions of dollars fine in a fraud case with regard to Axact (yes, not any so-called university but Axact itself was fined), the judgment is still present on official website, but you ignored it. Now, without probing the allegations, you termed it a catfight of Seths. It is unbecoming of a former top investigative journalist.
You said that Pakistani institutions were used like tissue papers and we remained silent. You said that no one consoled Pakistan when such news stories were published against it and the country was disrespected before the whole world. Many news stories are published in the New York Times but action is never taken.
Important foreign media stories were always picked up by the Pakistani media and notice was taken by the Pakistani authorities many times. You said, “We remained silent..”. Why you remained silent? You were doing programme for the last more than 12 years. You yourself could have done the programme. Why you didn’t do that?
Interestingly, you are “Network President and Editor in Chief” of Axact’s media group and have shares in business. You used to quote the NYT stories and relied on them but today when an organisation in which you have business interest came under media scrutiny, you are recalling such things and making these statements which are contrary to what you have been doing and stating in the past. You said that horrible allegations have been leveled against Axact having thousands of educated workers.
Common people and media professionals used to say similar things about you after your stories and corruption scandals used to be published in newspapers. It was a common perception in the media community that you used to spread negativism and portray everything in a scandalous manner and create hype. Today, you are saying this about others.
Only your viewers and newspaper readers could decide when you were wrong; now or in the past.
You also said, “The FIA entered in Axact offices and the media told whole world that we and our children are thieves.” You criticised such journalism and said there shouldn’t be a media trial. You said that there should be a transparent inquiry. However, in the past, when you used to report mega scams against organisations, big business houses or departments, you never considered or acknowledged this aspect that you were presenting the whole nation as a thief. People used to allege that you were carrying out their media trial, but you always maintained that doing a news story was your right as a journalist and you were simply fulfilling your journalistic duties. According to the Axact fake degrees scandal as reported by the NYT, almost millions of people from hundred plus countries of the world were looted and plundered and if the Pakistani government was taking an action against those named with evidence, shouldn’t it be a news for all news channels? Which other news can be more important than this? Axact was not only destroying careers of our children but millions of youth across the world.
You forgot the allegations levelled against you in the past during your journalistic career and now you are making the same allegations against your former media colleagues.
You also said that reporters also did not give sufficient time to Axact to respond to the allegations. You added it is really painful for you and that because of this the whole thing became dubious.
On the other hand, however, Axact says it has responded to the allegation in writing through its lawyer. Both Seths (you and Shoaib Sheikh) are frequently appearing in talk shows and presenting your point of view and still continue complaining of a ‘media trial’. But it reminds many media professionals the allegations which different people and organisations used to level against you of either not taking their version or giving them short time. History is repeating itself.
You said in a programme that online education is a crucially important component of Axact business. You said online education means awarding diploma and degrees after completion of courses. You said that there was need to understand there could be any name of a university or college. Anybody can open a university or college in his name and they are present in almost every street of Pakistan (Gali gali main khulay huvay hain). There was the same situation in England. If we go three years back, people used to visit England on education visas and subsequently apply for immigration. “They used to come to England on student visas for admission in colleges and universities which were opened in streets and roads of England,” you said.
At this stage, the anchor questioned that those colleges delivered education, at least there would be some course work. The NYT story has alleged that neither there was any course work nor there were any teachers in the web-universities managed by Axact.
You responded, “Sir, there was no course work. Moeed Sahab. Visas were issued in the name of colleges comprising one room.” After this, you however, admitted, “All these universities and colleges were closed down in England some two and a half years back. Some two to four thousand universities and colleges were closed down and no action was taken against them as there was no such law.” You further said, “Please tell me is there any law in Pakistan? Here we are discussing IT and web-based education but will I need any NOC if want to open a college? Will someone inquire me which teachers I have, which curriculum I will teach to students and what I will do there? After that if I will be willing to have an accreditation with some board, it will only add to the credibility of the institution. But do I need any permission for opening a college? This is web-based education. Online education is imparted in the same way in whole world”.
Now this was a terrible part of your statement as a former top investigative journalist. In response to the anchor’s question, you admitted that course work was not important. You tried to give an impression as if there is no law to regulate college and university education in Pakistan. There are very strict laws and no one can operate without mandatory accreditations. Doing so is a crime and such facilities are sealed by relevant government departments. However, the story becomes more dubious when on Wednesday Axact owner Shoaib Sheikh appeared in a talk show and made a new statement that Axact does not issue any degrees, fake or genuine. He, however, twisted his statement when he was asked by anchor-person about the recovery of degrees and US State Department documents from the Axact office by FIA on Tuesday.
“Ghazab Corruption Ajab Kahani” (Strange tale of horrible corruption) is being witnessed by each and every Pakistani and there are countless undeniable and unavoidable evidence that Axact used to sell fake degrees of universities which were not mentioned on its website, no association with such universities was even discussed or there is not even a slightest hint that Axact was issuing fake authentications of degrees and even impersonating the US State Department. However, the teller of tales of “Ghazab Corruption Ajab Kahani” is mysteriously silent this time.
In fact, the one who is facing criticism always considers himself a victim which is a wrong approach. It’s a wrong mindset.
Both Kamran Khan and Shoaib Sheikh are denying all the allegations being levelled against them and their business concerns in the national and international media.