Information Ministry raises issue of BBC’s fake news with UK authorities

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Ministry of Information on Tuesday sent a dossier to the UK officials to raise the issue of story titled “Uncovering Pakistan Secret Human Rights Abuses” published by British Broadcasting Company (BBC) on June 2. In this regard, the Government of Pakistan sent a detailed dossier to the Office of Communication (OFOCM) and BBC, UK. According to the dossier, an e-mail was sent by BBC Editor Simon to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on March 28, 2019 and the ISPR responded to the e-mail on April 1, 2019. The reply asked e-mail sender to hold detailed discussion to know the facts, but the BBC ignored the journalist ethos and published the one-sided story. It not only presented a fabricated theme, but it also violated journalist ethos. The story also violates BBC's editorial policy by not incorporating point of view of all stakeholders/citing the credible sources/quoting authentic evidence etc. It amounts to indicting the State of Pakistan for so-called "Secret Human Rights Abuses" without any cogent evidence. The detailed analysis of its content reflects bias, spinning and angling of the facts. There are judgmental expression in the story which are clear violation of journalistic norms of impartiality and objectivity. The analysis of the story has been sent to the UK authorities in the separate dossier. The Government of Pakistan expects that the matter will be looked into for appropriate action against the author and the editorial board linked to the story. “We also expect BBC to abide by its editorial policy and journalists ethos in future.” The dossier says the Government of Pakistan expects that in line with the Royal Charter, BBC's own editorial guidelines and office of communication (OFCOM) will look into the response on the content of the malafide, incorrect and misleading content of the story and take measures as per the BBC's editorial guidelines 1.2.11 (Accountability "we will be open in acknowledging, mistakes when they are made and encourage a culture of willingness to learn from them"). The dossier also demands that BBC removes this defamatory and malicious story, and issue a clear-cut apology. “We also expect the BBC authorities to ensure that in future such fake stories specifically targeting Pakistan will not be disseminated.” It demanded. The Government keeps the right to peruse all legal measures within the country and the United Kingdom if the BBC authorities fail to retract this libelous and defamatory story and take action against its writer.