A FEW days ago the BBC gave live coverage of the ceremony held at Eindhoven airbase, the Netherlands, to receive the remains of the victims of flight MH17.

What a beautiful and touching ceremony it was, with the Dutch queen and her consort, the prime minister and other dignitaries there to receive them.

What struck the viewer the most, was the respect the media showed for the families of those who perished in the air crash. Not a glimpse of one of them, though the viewers were told they were present at the airbase.

It was remarkable respect for their privacy in this hour of great grief. How different it is to the Pakistani media. The local media, on the other hand, asks the family of the victim all sorts of foolish questions.

They enter homes and bedrooms armed with cameras, show personal belongings and crying faces. Perhaps it is time they learnt how to report on such situations with professionalism which they lack.

Ayesha Mahmud
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014