THERE is a strong tendency in Pakistan to try and control public opinion and discourse — whether by fair means or foul.

In the latter category must fall the news about the non-availability of the book Truth Always Prevails by business tycoon Sadruddin Hashwani.

Since its launch a few days ago, there has been much talk about the allegations he has made in the book against former president Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the party that has held the reins in Sindh for the past six years.

While bookstores in most of the country had to order fresh stocks of Mr Hashwani’s book because of high demand, on Tuesday a spokesperson for the author said there had been a “forceful removal” of copies from outlets in Karachi.

When this newspaper followed up, representatives of a couple of prominent bookstores said the book had been ‘banned’ and would no longer be available. One spokesperson claimed the book had been removed from the shelves because it contained derogatory remarks against “some influential national personalities”.

There is no official ban on the book, of course, and a few obvious answers present themselves when the source of the command to pressurise Karachi stores into refraining from stocking the title is pondered.

The move lays bare the truth of politicking in Pakistan. Consider, after all, that in essence there is little distinction between this case, and that of the book written by Malala Yousafzai, which the banned TTP intimidated bookstores in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into staying away from.

However, there is a world of difference between the TTP and the PPP — or so the observer would have thought.

Mr Hashwani has made a number of serious allegations, and Mr Zardari has already served a legal notice on him as he is well within his rights to do.

This dispute now needs to be settled through the courts; bringing extra-legal pressure to bear only reduces the stature of those who resort to intimidatory tactics.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2014