BBC issues clarification after Dar’s complaint
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LONDON: The BBC this week published a clarification about a claim made during a BBC HardTalk interview with former finance minister Ishaq Dar, in which the host said the 2018 general election in Pakistan was “credible”.
Mr Dar told Dawn he complained to the BBC after the interview was aired in December 2020, that after five months and two rounds of communications, the BBC published a clarification on its website.
The BBC statement said: “In exchanges about the Pakistani elections of July 2018 we referred to a report by EU election monitors. We said that while the monitors reported some grave concerns about abuses in specific places involving different parties “the final and ultimate conclusion was that they believed the result was credible”.
“We should have made clear that we were quoting comments made by the Chief Observer of the EU Monitors Michael Gahler at a press conference to launch a preliminary statement on the election in July 2018 and not the report itself. He said that “overall the election results are credible”.
Mr Gahler also expressed concerns about the election process in Pakistan: “Our overall assessment of the election process is that it is not as good as in 2013… Candidates with large political appeal and financial means, the so-called ‘electables’ were reported to often dominate the campaign. Uneven rules on campaign spending further undermined candidates’ equal opportunity.”
It added: “The final report by the EU Monitors, published in October 2018, described voting as “well-conducted and transparent in most of the 446 polling stations observed” but said “the count, transmission and tabulation of results lacked transparency, leaving room for allegations of electoral malpractices. It made a range of recommendations regarding future elections in Pakistan.”
Speaking to Dawn, Mr Dar said the interview was “one-sided, biased and not neutral”. “Nowhere in the 91-page EU report does it say the election was credible.”
In the interview, Mr Dar had been grilled by host Stephen Sackur on a range of subjects, including his family’s property and assets and his return to Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2021
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Comments (74) Closed
May 21, 2021 07:59am
Dar Sb it's late now. Be better prepared for the next time.
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May 21, 2021 08:12am
So PMLN and PPP: don't blame the elections. Blame your weak character and poor performance.
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May 21, 2021 08:14am
BBC itself is no longer credible. On occasions it’s Blackmailed by UK government for their political ends.
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May 21, 2021 08:14am
That interview was hilarious. I doubt Dar will go within 100 feet of BBC studios ever again
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May 21, 2021 08:23am
Any interview with Dar is going to be one-sided simply because he cannot present facts to back up his whining.
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May 21, 2021 08:34am
That BBC interview is worth watching. Dar was cornered, he had no answer, and the anxiety was clearly visible on his face
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May 21, 2021 08:47am
Dar is the best finance minister we have in Pakistan.He increased the value of PKR to keep the inflation low ,and to increase the purchasing power of the people.This present regime has devalued the currency and hence inflations is at its peak ,and our exports items became cheapest in international market .If devalued currency can bring economic growth then India would not strengthen its currency ,and North Korea would be economic power by having the most devalued currency .
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May 21, 2021 09:19am
The man was ripped to pieces in that interview and the real tragedy here is this individual was a Finance Minister - No wonder he absconded,
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May 21, 2021 09:20am
Good that Mr Dar went after the BBC on this issue. Stephen Sackur needs to update his reading.
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May 21, 2021 09:24am
Anxiety on Mr. Dar’s face tells the truth.
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May 21, 2021 09:36am
EU Monitoring Team as well as UN Observation teams were/are satisfied and Dar can NOT change their opinion.
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May 21, 2021 09:46am
BBC made Dar learn his ABC again.
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May 21, 2021 09:53am
Mr Dar must have paid a lot of money for this clarification and for it to be published in Pakistan, because none of what is said has any impact on the conclusions of the interview
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May 21, 2021 09:54am
Why can't our anchors conduct interview of these so called big wigs in the same way as done by hard talk
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May 21, 2021 09:58am
The interview was a comedy show.
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May 21, 2021 10:06am
So Dar Sahib did not complain to BBC about mention of his numerous properties in UAE as its irrefutable. His only complaint appears to be about declaring election by and large credible. In Mr. Dar eyes no election can be credible if Mian Sahib does not become PM as a result of such elections.
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May 21, 2021 10:14am
Mafia Dons are always particular about their reputation
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May 21, 2021 10:16am
After Musharraf takeover the IMF report stated that Ishaque Dar gave them budged figures on Pakistan economy.
There lies Dar’s credibility.
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May 21, 2021 10:25am
Its quite funny that he is making the allegation of being one sided because right after the interview Dar was claiming on pak television that the host was clearly under pressure amd it was evident frm hosts facial expressions
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May 21, 2021 10:32am
Dar told lies after lies, left right and centre in this interview conducted by an experienced BBC anchorperson.
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May 21, 2021 10:58am
Poor Dar humiliated in the interview. As Pakistani feel sorry for him. After looting public wealth he deserves that.
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May 21, 2021 10:59am
In the interview, Mr Dar had been grilled by host Stephen Sackur on a range of subjects, including his family’s property and assets and his return to Pakistan.
And he never answered them but was nervous, shifty and evasive.
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May 21, 2021 11:00am
@F Khan, Dar Sb it's late now. Be better prepared for the next time.
He can't, because he stole and ran away.
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May 21, 2021 11:00am
@No Ash, BBC itself is no longer credible. On occasions it’s Blackmailed by UK government for their political ends.
In Dars case it was credible.
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May 21, 2021 11:00am
Small victory for democracy, selected and electables would not like this justice. For those insulting their fellow Pakistani, it is BBC who have apologised that they were wrong.
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May 21, 2021 11:03am
@Emraan UK, Your analysis is wrong. Dar spent $22 billion in PML n tenure to keep Dollor at artifical rates. Under PTI, the rupee was free floated and it has found its market rate plus better economic performance is strengthening the Ruppee daily.
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May 21, 2021 11:04am
@Zafar iqbal, Why can't our anchors conduct interview of these so called big wigs in the same way as done by hard talk
Because just before the interview a white lifafa drops into their pockets.
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May 21, 2021 11:06am
More bad news for Pakistan
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May 21, 2021 11:07am
Dar was thrown under the bus as BBC had invited Nawaz Sharif for the interview. PML N sent their best man, Dar, who ended up sinking Nawaz Sharif and his party.
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May 21, 2021 11:09am
Dar needs to return and face the judicial system. I am sure he can get extended bail and permission to travel abroad from the Lahore High court
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May 21, 2021 11:17am
Who care what BBC says and their country harbouring criminal wanted in Pakistan. As a Dar party they always came to power through rigged and hidden deal in nexus of internal power and external forces. They are merit less people and feel deprived now.
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May 21, 2021 11:26am
Dar sahab you are not credible, you ran away from justice.
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May 21, 2021 11:33am
Dar was grilled and then pan fried - after which he was put in the oven by the BBC host. Brilliantly exposed by BBC.
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May 21, 2021 11:41am
All politicians are nurtured and brought forwarded by the then East India company. They are loyal to themselves than to homeland.
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May 21, 2021 11:48am
@Zafar iqbal, our tv hosts are not properly trained & not sufficiently groomed personally in language /vocabulary as well as unfortunately in urdu grammar. The absence of refined urdu language combined with lack of general knowledge on solid footing are main factors of our sub-standard hosts.
Such as 1host said in interview"Sir -aap kia ker rehe ho". Such poor grammer indicates poor grooming. We may never have comperent hosts wuth well controlled voice tones.
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May 21, 2021 11:54am
@Emraan UK, please how silly. He kept value PKR high not by ensuring country earns more dollars but by spending 20 billion of force reserves. When those reserves ran out there was no choice. Do some research
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May 21, 2021 12:03pm
RTS system crashing and becoming non functional and lots of govt candidates winning on margins where rejected votes are more? no nothing to look at here.
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May 21, 2021 12:05pm
@Fastrack, either you don’t live in reality or if you checked the opposition got more votes and IK had to make deals with MQM and PMLQ crooks to get Govt. also by your logic the last 9 by election losses are due to IK weak character
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May 21, 2021 12:10pm
Ishaq Dar is the only sitting Finance Minister who became absconder , now presenting clarifications. He doesn’t deserve to be in Assembly again including N league .....
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May 21, 2021 12:11pm
Dear BBC, nothing will bring shame to Mr. Ishaq Dar. Just chill - he will remain shameless all his life.
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May 21, 2021 12:20pm
Ishaq Far was bay and left flabbergasted during that interview all the time. He was just mincing inaudible and inconceivable words all the time in reply to a charade of questions.
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May 21, 2021 12:26pm
This interview like nawaz son interview with Javed exposed PMLN supremo and
Their corruption.
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May 21, 2021 12:29pm
Huh? Why has this come in the news now?
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May 21, 2021 12:39pm
Dar thought he was going to “Ek din geo k saath” with Sohail Waraich but ended up at BBC on HardTalk so now he is unhappy.
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May 21, 2021 12:40pm
Whether the 2018 election was fair or not, what came out of the rollicking interview which should not be forgotten, was the Finance Minister of a country was seen wavering perilously without strong conviction and answers to the questions posed to him.
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May 21, 2021 12:53pm
Simply, truth is always bitter to swallow. The fact is Mr Dar was grilled by a well known BBC journalist and ex finance minister (absconder) just couldn't answer all genuine questions about his assets and immoral activities. I say to Mr Dar: don't question BBC's credibility, look at your corrupt practices and reply how you managed to increase your assets many hundred percent after becoming NS's relative?
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May 21, 2021 12:54pm
The Dar " Hard Talk " interview was a fiasco......and this is a shabby attempt at damage control. It would have been better if he has left the matter die its own death.
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May 21, 2021 01:08pm
Once an Absconder.... always an absconder !!!
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May 21, 2021 01:19pm
@Emraan UK,
Why did Pakistan need to go to IMF, if economy was good?
Inflated rupee value and transferred money out of country.
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May 21, 2021 01:46pm
Election engineering and election monitoring are 2 quite different matters. Election monitoring could not indicate rigging in NA-249 where Faisal Vawda won in 2018 but byelection in 2021 retrospectively proved rigging through election engineering by turning off RTS system. PTI came out at 5th position.
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May 21, 2021 01:52pm
Dar shamed whole nation. To think he and his lot were Pakistan's government one time. Shameful.
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May 21, 2021 02:01pm
We all saw the interview. This 'clarification' answers non of the other questions on you. In fact it only reiterates what they already said.
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May 21, 2021 02:22pm
I say to Mr Dar: why didn't you challenge BBC about your assets in UAE, when you were asked? Why you felt embarrassed and tried to divert attention during the interview? Simply, truth is bitter to swallow!
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May 21, 2021 02:32pm
Don’t blame the questions , blame your preparedness. Steven Sacker is not Talat Hussain.
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May 21, 2021 02:32pm
Trying to figure out we haven't heard someone saying "too little, too late" or "once a cheater always a fraudster".
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May 21, 2021 02:32pm
What does it matter to his reputation?
His fleeing the country says enough about his integrity and standard.
Just looking for scraps.
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May 21, 2021 02:32pm
Don’t blame the questions , blame your answers . You had no clue. Steven Sacker is not Talat Hussain .
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May 21, 2021 03:07pm
@Ronhyder, Dar paid up to remain relevant to his patwaris.
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May 21, 2021 03:41pm
@Yas, Pakistan went to IMF because there was wide gap between import /export trade balance.GDP was expending and imports were high which was indication of economic growth in the country.
now our GDP growth is slow ,and economic burden is passed on to the common people ,and GDP per/capita has gone down .
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May 21, 2021 04:28pm
It’s funny how BBC has given so much time to Dar, whose hiding from authorities and courts in Pakistan. Is BBC so desperate that it’s willing to interview Dar, more than once ? Speaking g of creditable, how can anyone believe one word from this corrupt man
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May 21, 2021 04:38pm
any person who has run away from his country should always avoid giving interview, he was just digging his own grave.
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May 21, 2021 04:47pm
Too little, too late.
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May 21, 2021 05:00pm
Most useless finance minister ever.
A strong ruppee was useful because?
We could carry on importing products that we really couldn't afford and at the same time make our exports more expensive. Genius.
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May 21, 2021 05:21pm
BBC is/was/will never credible. In the UK you need to pay around £160 for your TV licence, which goes to BBC. I have stopped paying for the licence as I do not watch BBC or any live programs on the TV due to its credibility.
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May 21, 2021 05:50pm
Corrupts sitting in London and crying foul. What a shameless situation.
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May 21, 2021 06:54pm
Mr. Dar still thinks that he is in power and can manipulate the outcome of any decision. In this case, he wanted to put his desired version in the host's mouth. Mr. Dar forgot that he is not in Pakistan's crooked way of doing things, plus he and his boss ( Nawaz Sharif ) are known, liars and counterfeiters.
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May 21, 2021 06:55pm
Mr. Dar: You ain't living in Nawaz Sharif's Mafia land. This is the UK.
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May 21, 2021 07:00pm
Ishaq Dar is no more a trustworthy person.One cannot trust him on the face of his utterances.
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May 21, 2021 07:10pm
BBC should have clarified as follows:
Candidates with large political appeal and financial means (including Mr. Dar's party), the so-called ‘electables’ were reported to often dominate the campaign
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May 22, 2021 01:32pm
Ishaq Dar struggled to talk coherently and made outrageous claims that got torn to shreds during questioning.
Kind of reminded me of watching an interrogation scene from the Simpsons.
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May 22, 2021 02:22pm
The worst fraud was 2018 election,RTS changed results totally.
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May 22, 2021 02:28pm
The worest fraud was 2018 elections,at night RTS changed results totally.
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May 22, 2021 03:41pm
@No Ash, yeah they do it after informing you.
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May 22, 2021 03:43pm
@Emraan UK, India overvalues its currency? are you out of your mind?
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