REFERENCE a report and the picture of the prime minister at a meeting at GHQ in Dawn (Dec 20).

Although a highly important meeting that persuaded the PM to travel to GHQ, ‘neither the PM Office nor the ISPR said anything’. A picture was released though.

The caption says: ‘The picture provided by the PID’. As it could come only either from the PID or the ISPR, one wonders if the declaration was a silent disclaimer from the ISPR, again for what purpose?

The GHQ meeting is believed to have been attended by many but the lens mysteriously failed to focus on any other participant. Why?

The meeting was said to be presided over by the PM but the picture speaks otherwise. Worse still, the PM seems uneasy almost nervous and un-hinged.

No professional media person would have selected this picture from among a host of pictures that must be taken on such occasions. Or was the selection deliberate?

Was the absence of official press release used to dramatise the pictorial message?

Either it is unbelievably unprofessional. Or it is deliberate overkill professionalism to convey a stark message.

The messenger may compliment himself for conveying the message but does he also realise the great disservice done in the process.

Senator Farhatullah Babar

Member, Senate Information Committee

Islamabad

Published in Dawn December 23th , 2014