Media
imperialism in Pakistan
Sultan
M Hali
Media in Pakistan was fettered by
successive repressive regimes but in 1989, Benazir Bhutto freed the Print media
while in 2002, ironically a military dictator General Pervez Musharraf provided
relief by permitting the establishment of private TV and FM Radio channels. In
the past twelve years the electronic media has grown at an exponential rate
unfortunately, it has become unbridled and like a genie let out of the bottle,
it has tended to become a conglomerate and media houses indulge in imperialism
and manipulation of public opinion.
Some sixty five years ago, about the
same time as Pakistan got its independence, George Orwell wrote his famous book
“Nineteen Eighty-Four”. That classic novel with miraculous prescience depicted
with a fair amount of accuracy, the events that were to unfold in the present
era. Orwell goes on to predict that totalitarian regimes would rely on a
ubiquitous “Oblong Metal Plaque like a Dulled Mirror” to keep the citizens of
Oceania brainwashed and obedient: “the instrument called television could be
dimmed, but there was no way of shutting it off completely”.His prophecy
couldn’t be more correct for television is here to stay and cannot be shut off.
It is one of the most effective means of communication since it has access to
nearly every home and reaches even the remotest corners. Thus whoever controls
it has a very powerful instrument in his hand for he can channelize the very
thoughts of people.
Although
the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was established to
ensure best practices by the private TV and FM Radio Channels but ineffective
legislation and weak enforcement created virtual Frankenstein in the media.
Cross media ownership provided unrestrained power to the media owners. Some of
whom exploited this very powerful tool to further their own aims and in some
cases, vested interests found a vibrant platform to further their own agenda,
since the media houses were more concerned with the generation of revenues
rather than the quality of the message or what dangerous implications it would
have.
A R Khalid, Professor, Department of
Journalism, University of Punjab, in his book “Communication Today” writes,
“The fact is the Pakistani journalists are anything but human. Most of them are
the worst breed of parasites. Instead of helping the nation they seem hell-bent
to suck its blood, to strip it to the last drop and even to bargain national
interests for the sake of personal aggrandizement. Their slogan about freedom
is only a camouflage to squeeze personal benefits out of the state officials
who spare no effort either to out-clever the journalists. Thus the media men in
Pakistan should realize their responsibilities and try to discharge their
duties to the satisfaction of the people and not to wangle the hypocritical
favours of the rulers to secure lucrative advantages for themselves”.
A considerable portion of the
Pakistani press is thriving on sensationalism. These newspapers and magazines
often resort to defamation of prestigious institutions. The modus operandi of
these sensationalists is that they pick any small incident, often at the behest
of some vested interest and blow it out of proportions in order to create
sensation. Prof. Khalid’s book quoted above was published in 1991 but his
comments are valid even today. Media has been an effective tool for propaganda,
which is an intricate science and a planned exercise to undermine the will of
the people. Hitler had entrusted an entire ministry to Goebbles to achieve his
ends. The Jews and Hindus are past masters at it. Machiavelli and Chanakya
devoted volumes to the art of statecraft and deceit through propaganda.
In the case of Pakistan, its hostile
eastern neighbour India has used media for its heinous aim of brainwashing of
the Pakistani viewers in accordance with a devious plan. Sushma Swaraj, one
time information Minister in the BJP regime, once claimed that India did not
need to invade Pakistan physically. Through its powerful and effective
electronic media, it would so condition the Pakistani viewers with its
permissive dances, songs and dramas that Pakistanis would have a cultural
invasion and be programmed to adopt Hindu customs, traditions, rituals and
mores. Some of the private electronic media in Pakistan have become partners to
Indian media and virulently air Indian content, which has all the programs
Sushma Swaraj had boasted of. Unfortunately, one such media group has partnered
Indian media in its “Aman ki Asha” and in its guise the Pakistani viewers have
been bombarded with the Indian content. Unfortunately some of the anchors and
analysts of this media group have taken up the cudgels to tarnish the image of
Pakistan and its armed forces and intelligence agency ISI to weaken the
confidence of the Pakistani nation in its defenders.
Recently, a TV anchor of this group
was attacked by an unknown group in Karachi. The anchor person survived but at
the drop of a hat, blamed the ISI for the attempt on his life. Every
journalist, institution and human rights practitioner condemned the attack and
wanted the assailants to be brought to justice. The media group however went
berserk in its campaign and continuously portrayed the ISI as villainous and
demanded the resignation of the DG of this prestigious institution, which has
been a thorn in the side of the Indians, thwarting the conspiracies and
assaults on Pakistan. This is not only contrary to all forms of decorum but
tantamount to conspiring with the enemy to weaken a state institution. If the
media group had evidence of the involvement of the ISI, it could have presented
before the free and fair judicial system and seek reparation. PEMRA would be
well advised to ensure media freedom but discourage its imperialism and misuse
to further vested interests.
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