Fair media coverage
THE election commission has done well to issue a code of conduct for the state-controlled electronic media. With less than two months left to the general election, it is time PTV and Radio Pakistan realized the importance of the role they have to play in the context of the forthcoming polls. As state organs, they have to set a new trend that should be seen by all as a clear departure from the past practices. So far, under all governments, dictatorial or democratic, the state-controlled electronic media has played a blatantly partisan role. Invariably, it has served as a government mouthpiece. In the process, it not only censored all opposition points of view, it often carried on blistering propaganda against politicians and personalities on the wrong side of the government of the day. During Ziaul Haq’s time, the radio and TV broke all previous records in character assassination and in slandering the regime’s political opponents. People still remember the “Zulm ki daastaan” series meant to demonize only one individual and his family and party.
This government has not pursued the media control policy of the previous military governments. The print media is free — even the regime’s worst critics acknowledge this. But the same cannot be said of the state-controlled electronic media. PTV and Radio Pakistan continue to project only the official news and views, and the opposition’s viewpoint on a given issue is covered only briefly. This symbolic coverage cannot hide the fact that the radio and TV have since October 1999 been carrying on vicious propaganda against politicians in general, accusing them of all manner of lapses, failures and crimes. This may serve the government’s purpose for a while, but in the long run the policy proves counterproductive. After all, this government, too, like the previous military ones, has pledged to hand over power to the politicians. What then is the point in a generalized pattern of denunciation of the politicians as a class? More unfortunate is the over-projection of some parties and individuals favourably disposed to the government. Such a policy adds to the widespread misgivings among neutral observers about the fairness of the October elections.
Against such a background, the election commission’s code of conduct comes as a breath of fresh air. One hopes that Radio Pakistan and PTV will strictly abide by the instructions issued by the EC on Thursday. Briefly, these require the government electronic media to be “fair, balanced and unbiased” in presenting matters that affect virtually every aspect of electioneering. Specifically, the EC’s order with regard to radio and TV coverage relates to speeches, symbols, banners, flags and other campaign material. The two should be fair in presenting excerpts of speeches from constituencies “across the country.” While it was not possible to give coverage to every individual, the EC said, important parties and candidates must be covered. It has correctly cautioned that no individual or party should be given “substantially more coverage than others” and that there should be no coverage of speeches that incite people to violence. One hopes that these two important state organs will strictly abide by the guidelines and the code of conduct prescribed by the EC.
Another terror attack
THE grenade attack on a Christian hospital in Taxila yesterday is further proof that the country is in the grip of a ruthless campaign of terror, aimed at western and Christian targets. In the latest incident, three attackers hurled grenades at a chapel situated in the compound of the hospital, killing three nurses and injuring 20 others as they emerged from their morning prayers. Police sources claim that one of the attackers blew himself up following the attack while his two associates fled the scene. The terrible incident follows a similar attack four days earlier on a Christian school in Murree, in which six people died. Three men suspected of being behind that attack blew themselves up by detonating grenades when police tried to intercept them a day later. What is most disturbing is that attacks by such fanatical killers, who have no hesitation in killing themselves for what they misguidedly believe to be a just cause, are the most difficult to prevent or tackle. The recent spate of terrorist incidents is clearly the fallout of Pakistan’s decision to join the world coalition against terrorism. Apart from the attacks on obvious western targets — such as the killing of French naval engineers in Karachi and the blast outside the US consulate in Karachi — Christian places of worship have also been targeted on at least two previous occasions this year.
In March, a church in Islamabad was targeted in a suicide attack. Earlier, a church in Bahawalpur was targeted by gunmen. The attacks in Murree and then Taxila in quick succession suggest that Pakistan may now be facing a new wave of violence against the Christian community. What is tragic is that a community known for its remarkable contributions in the field of education, health and social services is now being targeted by misguided zealots. The hospital in Taxila, like many other Christian-run institutions, provides health facilities to all the people of the area, regardless of their religion. With large numbers of foreign nationals leaving the country following the spate of terrorist attacks, it is the local Christian community that is now feeling increasingly insecure. The authorities must beef up security for Christian institutions and places of worship and come down hard on those behind these horrifying acts of terrorism.
Turbid water supply
AS if regular water shortages were not enough of a problem Karachi residents have to live with, the supply of turbid and possibly contaminated water over the last several weeks has only made matters worse. The complaints in this regard have been coming from all over the city, as turbid water supply is not restricted to any particular localities. This is one reason to believe that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board’s filter plants are not functioning properly. However, the KWSB has chosen not to clarify or deny any of the reports to this effect that have been appearing in the press for the last many days. Just goes to show how utterly inefficient and apathetic the water board can be when it comes to performing its key function: provision of safe drinking water for the residents of Karachi.
The water being supplied to the city these days is so transparently unclean that sediments it contains are visible even to the naked eye. But that is not all. In most cases it also emits a foul smell. Whether the sediments and deposits seen in the water have a pathogenic bacterial content is not clear, though several city hospitals have reported an increase in the cases of gastroenteritis in recent days. However, no reliable data are available to link the growing incidence of intestinal disorder with the drinking of turbid water. It is time someone responsible at the KWSB took notice of the widespread public concern on this score and explained why the water being supplied looks murky, and whether it is fit for human consumption. If not, the citizens need to be informed of the precautionary measures they must take to avoid exposing themselves to a serious health risk.