Since the mass explosion of electronic media in Pakistan, the war on terror, being chiefly fought on Pakistan's north western borders, has finally arrived in drawing rooms, bedrooms and autaqs of common Pakistanis with all its shocks and horror.
The gory drama of suicide bombings live on television screens makes a good story, certainly not for the victims but for many of the viewers. And thus thrives not only the electronic media but also the print media. With regard to the coverage of certain events in the media, many English newspapers in Pakistan follow a different style as compared to Urdu newspapers. It makes an interesting reading how important (or unimportant) issues are highlighted in the Pakistani media, the subjects that are not brought to light and the impact that they may have on the common psyche.
Consider the following.
First, the matter of war on terror is certainly very important for the country. So, how do you label the people who attack your armed forces, sensitive installations and kill innocent civilians? Enemies? The Pakistani media, one would be surprised to learn, calls them miscreants and extremists but not terrorists and enemies. In fact, several Urdu newspapers still run columns supporting them. The argument is that Taliban are after all Pakistanis and (pious) Muslims and somebody else is attacking the armed forces. To some extent, this may also be true. But it is interesting to note that for the media a young man who burns tyres on street to protest load-shedding is a miscreant and so is a Taliban brutally killing Army personnel, slaying women and destroying girls' schools, CD and barber shops. Should this continue under the banner of the freedom of the press? Or should it not in the greater good of the society and the country? Where should the line be drawn?
The second issue is that of Balochistan, the most deprived province of Pakistan. It is true that the Baloch people deserve more funds for their development and perhaps all provinces more powers to run their affairs. But what is the role of the media on Balochistan? We again find in the media so-called miscreants blowing up pipelines, pylons and killing innocent settlers. It is good that the media talks about the rights of the people and their deprivation. But what is generally missing is the condemnation of subversion acts and answers to scores of important questions. Who is (financially and militarily) supporting the BLA? What has been the history of those running the organisation? Should the system be blamed for the problems or the country?
Third, the issue of nuclear scientist Dr Qadeer Khan has been making headlines over the past several years. The media is highlighting aspects of the case such as the suffering of the scientist because of his isolation at his home, the contributions the scientist made to Pakistan's security to which there is no denying, the ailment he is suffering from and how India made its top nuclear scientist its president while we had to put ours under house arrest. Is there any other side to it? Shouldn't the media also explore that some charges, if not all, against Dr Khan may have a ring of truth in it? Did Musharraf, despite all his faults, not handle AQ Khan's case sensibly in Pakistan's best interests? Were Dr Khan's recent interviews to the media in the interest of Pakistan and its nuclear programme? Can he be allowed the freedom to roam the country at will? The media, following the populist views, has, by and large, conveniently ignored such questions.
Finally, there is the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. While it is unfortunate that she happens to be under the American custody, one's heart especially goes out to her children who have done nothing wrong. The media, in particular Urdu, have taken up her cause and rightly so. Why was she taken away and her whereabouts not revealed till now? And where are her children? But at the same time, the media has failed to address several relevant questions. Why among 80 million women of Pakistan was Dr Aafia singled out and handed over to the Americans? Which religious party does she belong to?
Warns a prominent Karachi psychiatrist Dr Ajmal Kazmi that because of repeated telecast of gory incidents, patients suffering from depression and anxiety are facing relapse, cases of post stress traumatic disorder (PSTD) are increasing alarmingly and 10 to 12-year-old children are adopting aggressive ways. With around 50 per cent Pakistani population under 18, Kazmi's clinical observations are pertinent. The time for the media, both print and electronic, to draw the line in reporting and analysis, adopt balanced coverage and, in a highly fractured society, determine where the buck stops, is here.
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