| October 25, 2008 | Saturday | Shawwal 25, 1429 |
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Chaghah and the tribal lashkar
US economy in a mess
Citizens’ help for the country
Honour killing
Now the secular Taliban
Killing a lady aid worker
IMF’s offer
Stop geographical disparity within Pakistan
NAPA’s ticket price
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
THIS is with reference to the letter titled, “Credibility of TV channels”, by Mr Yusuf Khan (October 23).
I am sure Mr Khan has read the article by Zohra Yusuf, “Promoting Media Ethics”, that appeared in Dawn a few days back . If he has not read it, I would advise him to read it on the PFUJ website, www.pfuj.info
The article has answered some of the questions raised by him about media ethics and the efforts made by journalists to address the issue of media ethics. Among the four pillars of the state, we are the only one that is at least talking about ethics.
In the last couple of months, there has been a lot of criticism on TV channels, particularly TV anchors. Editorials have been written against TV anchors and news channels have been accused of things they have not said or meant. Nevertheless, criticism is always welcome as it often provides you an opportunity to improve yourself.
Print media received its taste of freedom of the Press after 1985, and has played its role in exposing corruption among the ruling elite, that led to the fall of several previous governments. However, I believe that some of the journalists were “used,” and some stories planted at that time but by and large, journalists played their role.
Then private TV news channels emerged as a voice after 2001. Like in the print media, journalists working in the private TV channels have performed reasonably well despite much experience and exposure, and I am open to debate with anyone on this issue. Yes, at times some of them were irresponsible but this seems to happen everywhere. Mr Khan must see the documentary made by BBC, which was made a few years back on how stories were planted about the fall of late Iraqi President Saddam Hussain.
Private TV channels did a commendable job in the 2002 general elections, local bodies elections, earthquake in 2005, the struggle for the independence of judiciary in 2007, the November 3 action, October 18 bomb blasts at the arrival of Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto, the struggle for lifting ban on TV channels, the BB’s assassination and the February 18 elections.
What else can you expect from the media which is only six years old? We still keep criticising the role of print media after 60 years, but the electronic media has to be given space to mature. I can give examples of hundreds of TV stories which were positive and exposed many military and civilian rulers, intelligence officials, bureaucrats etc. Several human rights stories enabled governments and courts to take notice and provide justice.
Regarding the stories mentioned by Mr Khan i.e Benazir Bhutto murder and the sighting of the moon; one, the media had quoted a close aide of BB and Asif regarding the news that she was safe and alive. Second, she had not died on the lap of Naheed Khan but in the hospital. The media was given little access inside the hospital and no one was ready to confirm the story.
A reporter in ARY had soon found that she had died but it was decided not to air the news until the PPP leadership or the hospital authorities officially confirmed it. Whether or not it was a wrong decision, I leave it to the readers to judge. Further, how the media should be held responsible for the news on the sighting of the moon is beyond comprehension.
I agree that we need to address the issue of “breaking news,” and “live coverage.” I also think that the media should not overplay news of bomb hoaxes. The problem with both print and electronic media is lack of editorial control. Professional editors, heads of the channels, directors news and current affairs can address this issue.
We have proposed a 26-point code of ethics and a Media Complaints Commission. It is now the duty of other stake holders to respond. However, I appeal to journalists and columnists who are advocating restrictions on media, not to let this precious freedom of the press be lost; something that we have achieved after great struggle.
Quoting a well-known writer, “You can’t have real newspapers without democracy and you can’t have democracy without newspapers.”
MAZHAR ABBAS
Secretary General, PFUJ
(II)
This is with the reference to Yusuf Khan’s letter “Credibility of TV channels” (October 23). Somewhat he has rightly pointed out some mistakes made by the media. However, as far as credibility is concerned, it would be wrong to underestimate the role of Pakistani media.
In fact, Pakistani media played a very crucial and responsible role in covering the independence of the judiciary movement, Lal Masjid issue, Dr Afia Siddiqui case, and FATA operations. When we honestly compare the Pakistani media with the international ‘dominant’ media, our media obviously seems more reliable. A student of media history knows very well as to how a dominant international media misled the world over a century.
I disagree with Mr Yusuf that international channels are better. Especially, western media has been manufacturing propaganda against Islam and its teachings, shaping consensus for baseless battlegrounds. Projection of propaganda has been a typical skill of the dominant media since the formation of Creel Commission that turned pacifist Americans into hysterics.
As a result, atom bombs changed Hiroshima and Nagasaki into ashes and then due to the same media, Vietnam underwent atrocities; fuhrer, Bosnia became a graveyard of innocent masses; in addition, atrocities in South Africa were swept under the carpet. After the historical blunders of Afghanistan and Iraq wars supported by the western media, dominant media practitioners are not enjoying a reputation of a sophisticated intellect of convincing behaviour. Here, it must be reiterated that Pakistani media is more capable of tackling concerned issues.
Further, the Pakistani media is more careful regarding the use of misnomers like ‘terrorism’, ‘extremism’, and “Islamic radicals”. In the end, one thing I want to say confidently is that Pakistani media practitioners are much more Pakistani than politicians and the national media is more credible than the international dominant media.
NASIR FAROOQ
Karachi
(III)
Referring to the letter by Yusuf Khan, I totally agree with him.
Adding my view, they seem to be unprofessional and a waste of time. People have no choice but to watch these gutter channels.
USMAN
United Kingdom
In Pushto language, we use word “Chaghah”, which also means “a loud scream” or an SOS call for help. In our tribal culture’s history, there used to be shepherds having their sheep cattle grazing in grassy fields. Very often the cattle were threatened by, say, wolves’ attacks and the shepherd used to raise alarm (chaghah) for help. Hearing the shepherds ‘screams’ the tribal people would gather and form a lashkar to rescue the sheep and the shepherd. By the way the FC’s QRF (Quick Reaction Force) units have been formed under the same “Chaghah” concept.
The terror ‘wolves’ have today threatened our ‘cattle’ – our business, our daily life, our everything. We have raised the voice, given the call, it is an emergency. Our people, coming up to the tribal tradition, have risen to the occasion; they have raised their arms and come out to rescue ourselves. We have defended our territory before, and we will defend our territories even now.
Politicians and some of the people in media are wrongly projecting the forming of lashkars as part of political move. This tantamount to playing with the emergent situation we, the tribal people, are facing at the hands of terrorists and foreign elements that have made our areas as their hostage. They are playing politics and we are suffering. Our life, our children’s life, our future, our social and business activities, our religious rituals – everything is threatened.
If, though late, we have formed tribal lashkars on the SOS call of our elders, we have in fact responded to the shepherd’s ‘chaghah’, as part of our tribal tradition. Nobody should feel threatened, because the lashkars are not an army, it is an assembly of people who need to fight out ‘the terror wolves’, and once they succeed in kicking them out, the lashkar people would automatically disintegrate and start their routine life.
It is not a permanent phenomenon, but a temporary arrangement indigenously made with the help of political agents and to serve the public interest. We have no political agenda or whatever the call the designs. Amongst us are highly educated people and concerned citizens of this country.
We need full moral and material support to expel the danger and divorce the menace of terrorism. These are wolves of our time; let us join hands together to defeat them out.
F. Z. KHAN
Peshawar
A top US military commander has said that the military did not have enough troops to send to Afghanistan. On the other hand, US employers had cut 62,000 jobs in June for a sixth consecutive month as soaring fuel prices and a slowing economy forced companies to reduce costs.
It is time Admiral Mullen recruited those who lost their jobs, in the army to despatch to Afghanistan. Finally, the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have come to bite the Americans. Days of cheap oil, guzzling SUVs, and trendy homes are gone. Time is fast approaching when the Yankees will scrounge for crumbs to survive.
The US agenda now is to use our national army as a mercenary force to kill its own people. It seems there are no sane voices in the US to advise the government to pull back from both Iraq and Afghanistan and give peace in the world a chance for the betterment of the humanity. People of the world consider the US a shark among the dolphins.
Leaders of various countries who toe the US line are held in disrepute by their people. Collectively, people of the world need to tell the US: For God’s sake, live and let live.
MEHRAN LEGHARI
Lahore
I endorse the views expressed by Mr Aziz Suharwardy in your columns (Oct 22), titled “Pakistan needs to stand on its feet”. This is the only way to avoid problems in future as any assistance from the IMF will cause many pains for years to come. Have we not learnt from our mistakes in the past?
Dawn newspaper should assign a small column that provides phone or email contacts for civil society organizations, such as Pakistan Citizens Movement Mr Suharwardy mentions in his letter. People wanting to participate and serve the country in any manner can thus have easy access to such organizations.
MOHAMMED HASAN
Karachi
(II)
This is apropos to Aziz Suharwardy’s letter (Oct 22). One cannot agree more with him when he says that we all Pakistanis have to take stock of the current situation in Pakistan. With democracy in the country and performance of past governments, we all must share the responsibility of all the deeds and misdeeds (past, present and future). His suggestions are commendable and practical. The affluent elite, particularly those at the helm of affairs, must willfully render financial assistance by depositing (not donating) forex in Pakistani banks. Others will follow their example.
It may be recalled that Pakistan’s founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah did not receive any salary as Governor General, except Rs1 per month just for proof that he was a public servant. Similarly, Nawab Amir Mohammad Khan used to get Rs1 per month as Governor of West Pakistan. There must have been many other personalities imbued with similar attributes, patriotism and love for the motherland. They were not even half as rich as our VVIP/VIP elite today who authorize millions and millions from public resources for their personal security.
Mr Shaukat Aziz was considered to be the richest prime minister, but all his assets remained overseas. Had he invested a quarter of his fortune in Pakistan’s power-generation sector, his own assets would have doubled and we may not be living in dark ages these days.
All the time as finance minister and then prime minister, he did not tire begging foreigners to come to Pakistan to make huge investments. Most of our leaders prefer to live abroad (in self exile) but in palatial mansions with un-accounted for heaps of wealth rather than returning to Pakistan and investing in profitable ventures for poverty alleviation of their deprived brethren Pakistanis, instead of carrying the beggar bowl to foreigners.
Let us all resolve to adopt austerity in its true sense and help enhance our image in the community of proud nations. How long can we beg, borrow or steal for survival. We have abundant human resource capable of doing wonders with purposeful, sincere and honest guidance.
B M ASEEM
Karachi
This is to stir religious leaders in Pakistan to wake up from their deep slumber: please say something about this so-called ‘honour killing’. This is not a religious tenet that anyone should be proud of. As a matter of fact, those who practice it are disgracing Islam especially in the eyes of the westerners who think that such animal practices are condoned by Islam.
Islam came to protect the rights of women which it did and not to make them an object of mockery. This is terrorism against women and therefore, the Government must pass very strict rules to stop it. Those who practice it should be summarily tried and subjected to capital punishment.
There is a famous statement by Jesus. Jesus saw some men ready to stone a woman who, according to them, was involved in adultery. He told them to stop that and then he said: “Anyone who has never committed a sin should throw the first stone”. Nobody could.
Those in Pakistan who are committing these murders should know that they themselves are no sinless angels.
IFTIKHAR MUFTI
United States
In his article “Now the secular Taliban” (Oct 23), Jawed Naqvi writes, “(Tariq Ali’s new book) insinuates that Osama bin Laden is alive and is regarded by the Pakistan army brass as “the goose that lays the golden eggs” and therefore is indispensable”. If they do hold such beliefs, the Pakistani establishment isn’t alone.
Ever since the United States expanded defence production at the beginning of the Second World War, its wholly-privately owned defence industry has provided employment and prosperity to its citizens and (till the McCain-Feingold Act passed last year) undeclared campaign contributions to its politicians. After the War, the ex-Allies China and Russia became foes de jure and provided nascent military-industrial complex with a new purpose of existence and cause for expensive funding and inflated contracts from the government. The American masses who struggled from dawn till dusk to make ends meet, quietly watched their taxes go into the coffers of these corporations and remained mute in the face of the “communist threat”.
Then came the fall of the Berlin Wall, and a new economic concept was born called the “peace dividend”. It stated that now that the United States faced no conventional threat and had become the world’s sole superpower, billions that had been flowing to the defence sector in the US could be allocated to the social uplift of the American people. Therefore, the US defence budget dipped and no large increases were witnessed for a decade hence. But then, the Osama Bin Laden-led Al Qaeda terrorist outfit attacked the WTC building in New York and the Pentagon and Washington. The US found a new threat, one that didn’t have a limited shelf life like a rogue enemy state, and the US military-industrial complex has never been happier. It’s never been that richer either. The US military budget has passed the trillion dollar mark. Contracts are being dished out for futuristic naval surface ships, unmanned fighter planes and modern gear for the American GI of the 21st century.
So, as I said, the Pakistani establishment is one of many that, if they don’t like OBL, don’t want him neutralised either.
RAVEZ JUNEJO
Karachi
THROUGH your esteemed paper, I would like to congratulate the brave Taliban of Afghanistan and their ilk in Pakistan and elsewhere for shooting down an unarmed lady aid worker who had been helping the underprivileged and orphaned children in education and health sector.
Her only fault was that she belonged to a different faith and was suspected of preaching the same to them.
Well done, the Taliban seem to have done great service to Islam by shooting down an unarmed lady in the streets of Kabul for everyone to see that this is what will happen to anyone who dares to share the grief and misery of the widows, orphans and disabled by the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
Will Qazi Hussein Ahmad rise to the occasion and send a team of lady volunteers headed by a truly trusted Muslim lady doctor to replace the slain lady so that our faith is no more in danger and the humanitarian work interrupted by the great Talibs of knowledge could be resumed?
NAWAZISH ASAD
Karachi
This is with reference to the news item on the IMF’s offer of a $6billion package (Oct 22).
Pakistan should not seek IMF’s monetary help because it comes with a lot of strings attached. Already, the implementation of the IMF’s qualifying condition made Pakistan withdraw subsidies on oil and oil products, and has started hurting the common people.
Pakistan, instead, should depend on its own resources and also get help from China, the real friend in need.
Also, as an essential austerity measure, imports of all unnecessary and luxury goods should be banned.
JALALUDDIN S. HUSSAIN
Canada
AN article printed on October 20, “Karachi Sabzi Mandi becoming ‘Mini-Bajaur’” was a cause of real concern for me. We Karachiites have been constantly fed w ith so called ‘Talibanization’ of Karachi and claims that it will not be allowed to happen in this city.
Efforts are underway to control these ‘outsiders’ potentially hailing from Bajaur and Waziristan who are affecting political stability in our region. However, we being naive in using our own discretion in filtering information, tend to believe any and every inconceivable piece of information thrown our way: this hoax of Talibanisation of Karachi being one of those.
It is distressing to think that we’re now heading for geographical disparities within our country, as if we were short of other severe problems plaguing our nation. Desperate attempts are uncalled for to control the influx of people coming from other areas of Pakistan. They have an equal right to live and work here as any other Karachiite has.
It’s no news that every fifth person living in Karachi belongs to the Northern Areas. The roads, bridges, houses, basic amenities that we enjoy are all because of the hard work that these people have put in to make our lives better, just to earn a few pennies and that too depending upon the mercy of our supine richer class.
How can we ignore the fact that these people are involved, directly or indirectly, in the provision of every basic service in this city? Yet we talk of the profound danger our city is facing from the innocent people belonging to Bajaur and Waziristan, people who are also facing inhumane afflictions.
We as a nation need to decide what’s good and not rather than being led by groups with vested interests.
AMNA BATLA
Karachi
This is apropos to Rafat Mahmood Ansari’s letter appearing on October 22 and all the recent press coverage on the issue of NAPA’s (National Academy of Performing Arts) funding and premises.
I’ve had the privilege of watching many of NAPA’s plays staged by its students. These plays serve as final exams for these aspiring stars and the performances, at least to an inexperienced theatre fan like me, have been mesmerizing. These amateur actors had the audience glued to the seats during many performances. The soliloquy by a female protagonist in the climax of a play was perhaps one of the best performances I’ve seen by any Pakistani actress ever.
More important than the entertainment value or the quality of such performances is the fact that the words and story resonate in one’s mind, forcing audiences to contemplate on social issues like discrimination against women, hypocrisy in society, poverty and so on. These plays have a potential of changing the mindset of society.
However, the plays that I and my family saw were free under the “Friends of NAPA” banner. I had even taken my driver inside the Arts Council auditorium and he enjoyed the plays as much as we did. But when it comes to commercially buying tickets they are quite out of reach even for middle class audiences.
I totally disagree with one of NAPA’s faculty member’s comment that if the family foregoes a dinner outing of kabab paratha they will be able to see these plays. What world is he living in?
The cheapest ticket on offer in most plays is for Rs800. The highly rated “Sufaid Khoon” starring Talat Hussain had tickets upto Rs2500. If a middle class family of four goes to watch these plays, they end up spending one fourth of their household income on one evening worth of such entertainment. So the same elite class goes and watches these plays. I or my driver or a middle class banker also has as much right to watch these plays as a moneyed businessman since we are tax payers as well.
Of course these actors and directors are not doing welfare work. They need to be paid. NAPA should have at least three free performances of its plays or sell tickets at a nominal cost to cater to the masses. This can be funded through commercial sponsors. The government of course needs to keep on supporting this effort as well.
Though such initiatives are undertaken with much effort, when I analyze the cost structure, the ticket prices and the income level of the audience, I am afraid these plays will become just another means for the rich and the elite to have fun and socialize. As such, the thoughts and words of the writers and artists will not trickle down and reach the common man. He will continue to watch the mindless Indian films on offer and never benefit from the theatre experience and thus the role of these plays as change agents will be lost in oblivion.
SYED IMRAN SAQIB
Karachi
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