For Consideration of Pakistani Media
First and foremost, I strongly believe that there should be no regulations on media or for that matter any form of speech or expression. I oppose any government control over the media. However, as any responsible member of a nation or society, we have to be responsible for our actions. So in this post, I am going to raise a few issues where I believe media is hurting Pakistan.
First and foremost is the issue of professional dishonesty. Its examples could be limitless. For instance, there is this continuous talk that the current mandate is for restoration of judiciary. In all honesty, except for PML-N, all other parties got their mandate without raising the judiciary issue (and their mandate out-numbers PML-N's mandate). Also, the call of boycott to show solidarity with judiciary failed miserably resulting in one of the largest ever turn-outs. So, you can say that independent judiciary and restoration of judiciary are good things, but sorry the mandate is not for restoration of judiciary.
Second, one of the issues for which people actually voted for is terrorism. The parties who had clear, well-defined positions on "combating" terrorism have won big. It could never be clearer than in Frontier. PPP supports heavy-handed approach to deal with extremists and so does ANP. Even with PML-Q, the hawks on combating extremism were the ones who managed to win their seats and doves like Shujat and Ijaz lost. In the wake of it, on another level, media has been professionally dishonest in not admitting that people in Pakistan support parties who want to deal with extremists with a heavy-hand. In fact, there are people (like Hamid Mir, Kashif Abbasi, and Mushtaq Minhas) who are spinning it in completely opposite way.
Third reflection of this professional dishonesty is the campaign to "Islamize and Nazriya-e-Pakistanize" Benazir Bhutto. In her death, she has become a national icon and an icon far greater than we had in decades. And it is shameful that people like Ansar Abbasi, Hamid Mir and Mushtaq Minhas are trying to make people believe that she had changed her mind in private on return to Pakistan and was not supportive of the views which she had advocated all her life on issues like terrorism, combating extremists, nuclear program and pacifying international community concerns on it.
Professional dishonesty is one of the many manifestations of decayed Pakistani media. Another issue is assumption of role of opinion makers by not only anchors but even reporters. The job of anchor is to present the issue forth and not thrust his opinion on viewers. Similarly, reporter is to report and not to add his bias or own spin. We all know the enthusiasm of many reporters during CJP rallies to exaggerate the presence of one political party in particular (Now I don't know if yeh faizan-e-nazar tha ya maktab ki karamat thi).
Last issue that I want to highlight is media's role in Lal Masjid episode. In my humble opinion, many anchors played anti-state during and after the operation. No emphasis was put on discussing what a state could do if its writ gets challenged in such a way or on comparing it to similar situations that arose internationally (like Golden Temple or Cult-Castle Siege in Taxes), media assumed the role of reformer, messenger of "peace" and even negotiator. No one talks about the conduct of Lal Masjid people, the way they held students hostage, the way Mullah tried to flee leaving students, or of their vandalism any more. All the talk in the media of the issue, if any, is on painting it as a holocaust. When it comes to national security, if there is anything related to a spy who served years in prison and got released (and by the way I am pissed off at the amount of coverage media gave to him), it becomes this big national security issue. They argue zero tolerance when it comes to security threats from India, Israel and West (most of the times even perceived and not real) but tend to advocate accommodation when it comes to the threat of extremism and militancy that is demonstrated in reality on roads and streets of cities and valleys. Did anyone try to write marsiya of Baloch nationalist (who have legitimate concerns and demands) much the same way they did for extremists dying for anti-State causes.
And then, there were people like Ansar Abbasi and Mushtaq Minhas who tried to justify the first attack on Benazir Bhutto as a consequence of her position on Lal Masjid. In any civilized society, the comments Mr. Minhas and Mr. Abbasi made can lead them to be tried for Inciting to Murder (if you do not believe me get the recordings of Bolta Pakistan and Capital Talk and judge for yourself). Such comments have the potential of playing with the psychology of the brain washed extremists. I do not think they did it intentionally but one must realize what consequences of his action could be.
It is about time that media looks at these issue. They must think if their commercial interests or their ideological biases are unintentionally causing them do things which are destroying our nation and our society. On every single issue highlighted above , you do not need to prove to yourself or the society of your righteousness but you have to prove your righteousness in all objectivity to your own self. I sincerely hope you will.
First and foremost is the issue of professional dishonesty. Its examples could be limitless. For instance, there is this continuous talk that the current mandate is for restoration of judiciary. In all honesty, except for PML-N, all other parties got their mandate without raising the judiciary issue (and their mandate out-numbers PML-N's mandate). Also, the call of boycott to show solidarity with judiciary failed miserably resulting in one of the largest ever turn-outs. So, you can say that independent judiciary and restoration of judiciary are good things, but sorry the mandate is not for restoration of judiciary.
Second, one of the issues for which people actually voted for is terrorism. The parties who had clear, well-defined positions on "combating" terrorism have won big. It could never be clearer than in Frontier. PPP supports heavy-handed approach to deal with extremists and so does ANP. Even with PML-Q, the hawks on combating extremism were the ones who managed to win their seats and doves like Shujat and Ijaz lost. In the wake of it, on another level, media has been professionally dishonest in not admitting that people in Pakistan support parties who want to deal with extremists with a heavy-hand. In fact, there are people (like Hamid Mir, Kashif Abbasi, and Mushtaq Minhas) who are spinning it in completely opposite way.
Third reflection of this professional dishonesty is the campaign to "Islamize and Nazriya-e-Pakistanize" Benazir Bhutto. In her death, she has become a national icon and an icon far greater than we had in decades. And it is shameful that people like Ansar Abbasi, Hamid Mir and Mushtaq Minhas are trying to make people believe that she had changed her mind in private on return to Pakistan and was not supportive of the views which she had advocated all her life on issues like terrorism, combating extremists, nuclear program and pacifying international community concerns on it.
Professional dishonesty is one of the many manifestations of decayed Pakistani media. Another issue is assumption of role of opinion makers by not only anchors but even reporters. The job of anchor is to present the issue forth and not thrust his opinion on viewers. Similarly, reporter is to report and not to add his bias or own spin. We all know the enthusiasm of many reporters during CJP rallies to exaggerate the presence of one political party in particular (Now I don't know if yeh faizan-e-nazar tha ya maktab ki karamat thi).
Last issue that I want to highlight is media's role in Lal Masjid episode. In my humble opinion, many anchors played anti-state during and after the operation. No emphasis was put on discussing what a state could do if its writ gets challenged in such a way or on comparing it to similar situations that arose internationally (like Golden Temple or Cult-Castle Siege in Taxes), media assumed the role of reformer, messenger of "peace" and even negotiator. No one talks about the conduct of Lal Masjid people, the way they held students hostage, the way Mullah tried to flee leaving students, or of their vandalism any more. All the talk in the media of the issue, if any, is on painting it as a holocaust. When it comes to national security, if there is anything related to a spy who served years in prison and got released (and by the way I am pissed off at the amount of coverage media gave to him), it becomes this big national security issue. They argue zero tolerance when it comes to security threats from India, Israel and West (most of the times even perceived and not real) but tend to advocate accommodation when it comes to the threat of extremism and militancy that is demonstrated in reality on roads and streets of cities and valleys. Did anyone try to write marsiya of Baloch nationalist (who have legitimate concerns and demands) much the same way they did for extremists dying for anti-State causes.
And then, there were people like Ansar Abbasi and Mushtaq Minhas who tried to justify the first attack on Benazir Bhutto as a consequence of her position on Lal Masjid. In any civilized society, the comments Mr. Minhas and Mr. Abbasi made can lead them to be tried for Inciting to Murder (if you do not believe me get the recordings of Bolta Pakistan and Capital Talk and judge for yourself). Such comments have the potential of playing with the psychology of the brain washed extremists. I do not think they did it intentionally but one must realize what consequences of his action could be.
It is about time that media looks at these issue. They must think if their commercial interests or their ideological biases are unintentionally causing them do things which are destroying our nation and our society. On every single issue highlighted above , you do not need to prove to yourself or the society of your righteousness but you have to prove your righteousness in all objectivity to your own self. I sincerely hope you will.
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