I never trusted BBC and it’s my experience that like Urdu proverb it’s a big Restaurant with substandard food. Today a news story was published in BBC Urdu, the story is about succession of Baitullah Mahsud and Hakeem ullah as a new TTP chief, the reporter is Delawer Khan Wazir
The story is full of contradiction s and appears to be filed for only reason of sensationalism without confirming the report. I will write my criticism at the end of this
After the death of Baitullah Mahsud news started arriving about the dispute of his succession amongst TTP Baitullah Group. There were reports about fighting between Hakeemullah and Wali ur Rehman and few reports suggested that one amoung them or both died in exchange of fire between their supporters. But on second day both phoned media and the report was proven wrong. But still there was credible evidence that there was dispute.
TTP’s frustration was coming visible especially after 1 brigade and one battalion level attack on Bhitani positions within a week.
All important leaders were giving statements and observers were surprised that if Baitullah is not dead then why TTP people are giving un coordinated and some time conflicting statement.
Then on 17th august TTP spokes man was caught by Aman committee on information of Omer Khalid group. Molvi Omer admitted to authorities that Baitullah Mahsud died in August 5 drone attack.
From here the story takes turn. From here I will narrate incidents according to BBC reports.
’مولوی Ùقیر طالبان Ú©Û’ قائم مقام امیر
On Wednesday, August 19, 2009 a story was filed by BBC’s Riffattullah Aurak zai. According to him BBC was contacted by Molvi Faqir Muhammad, Naib Amir of TTP. He denied the reports of Baitullah Mehsud’s death and told BBC that Baitullah is alive and is very sick. He also told BBC that he(Faqir Muhammad) has taken Charge of TTP and appointing Muslim Khan as its new Spokes man. He also said Molvi omer, Ex spokes man of TTP resigned because he had no Telephone Facility in Bajor( I think Faqir Muhammad contacted BBC with Telepathy without using Phone because Bajor has no telephone Facility)
HE TOLD BBC THAT TILL NOW NO SHURA MEETING WAS HELD FOR CHOOSEING/ CHANGING OF NEW HEAD OF TTP.
HE also told BBC that neither Hakeem ullah nor Wali Ur Rehman has any power to appoint Head of TTP which can only be done by SHURA!
Interestingly today a story Filed by BBC Urdu contradicts every thing which a same man FAQIR MUHAMMAD said to BBC on 19th and Interestingly the reporter never bothered to ask abut the contradicting statements of Faqir Muhammad within 2 days. I think its classic example of how BBC operates…No wonder many of us call it Baharatya Broadcasting corporation.
Today’s story was filed by Dilawr Khan Wazir. Again Faqir Muhammad Contacted BBC. But this time he had a different story.
He announced that 42 member Shura of TTP representing different tribal agencies and FR areas has elected Hakeem ullah Mahsud as new Amir. He also revealed that Molvi Omer Khatab of Waziristan has been chosen as a new spokesman of TTP. He revealed that newly appointed TTP spokes man , Muslim khan is replaced by Shura because Muslim Khan has no Telephone facility( I don’t understand , if he don’t have any telephone than how Muslim Khan phoned Commissioner Malakand and many journalists in Swat). He also told BBC that Shura was conducted in Aurak zai agency.
Interestingly, no one in BBC’s editorial staff tried to Question Faqir Muhammad that in 2 days he gave two different statements. If we believe the story of BBC which it filed on 18 august 2009.
تØریک طالبان پاکستان Ú©Û’ ترجمان گرÙتار
Then we know Molvi Omer was returning from Shura meeting which was held in Aurak Zai. It also means that Faqir Muhammad also knew about the meeting. But BBC quoted other wise on 19 Û” Because according to report Faqir Muhammad did not know it.
’مولوی Ùقیر طالبان Ú©Û’ قائم مقام امیر‘
People will argue that BBC has no Fault because it filed what Faqir Muhammad told them. My argument is that is BBC an immature News agency where they don’t use common sense while filing stories?
There is some thing called Journalistic professionalism and I am sorry to say it is not displayed by BBC. There are hundreds of examples. It was BBC who without confirmation broke story of FALL OF LAHORE in 1965 war. It’s a common observation in Pakistan that BBC always gives bias and untrue reports without confirmations. Now its on readers to think them selves