Daily Times

The question of Asia Bibi’s whereabouts has hit headlines both at home and abroad.

Local and international media reported that she was flown out of Pakistan to a secret location. Though even here, social media were full of speculation that one foreign outlet had named the country whose asylum offer she and her family accepted. All of which sparked heated debate within the local journalistic community. Questions were raised as to whether the practice of ethical reporting had been followed in carrying the news of the former farm labourer’s departure given the ongoing legitimate concerns for her safety. Opinion remains largely divided between support for putting this story on hold until Asia Bibi had reached her destination and commitment to upholding the media’s primary function as a provider of public information.

This shows an industry not averse to introspection. Indeed, discussions included the question of sources. Most reports relied on remarks from Saif-ul-Mulook; Asia Bibi’s lawyer. Talking points therefore focused on the need to wait for formal government confirmation. This was duly echoed by the government. The Foreign Office spokesperson went on record as rebutting claims that this poor Christian woman had left Pakistan. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, going one step further, lashed out at the fourth estate for spreading so-called fake news.

There are lessons for both sides here. The federal government would have done well to give the media an off-the-record briefing that included details of related security threats. Yet even in the absence of this, the fourth estate ought to have held back until the PTI gave word one way or the other. At least, in theory.

For it must be noted that the Imran Khan government has already earned a reputation for flip-flopping. The will-they-won’t-they go to the IMF being a case in point. This is why the political apparatus is not always the best source of verified information. Then there is the matter of states wishing to keep certain facts out of the public domain. Though this, of course, is not peculiar to a single country as the WikiLeaks cables prove.

At the heart of the matter is the ongoing tension between the Pakistani state and the media. The latter is slowly suffocating from financial choking in the form of unpaid government dues. Thus while it is imperative for journalists to tap original sources wherever possible and to corroborate all information – news outlets simply do not have the resources to always guarantee this. Newsrooms across the print and digital divide are functioning with shrinking resources. All of which impedes the business of getting the facts out. And when presumed opportunities to do so, particularly regarding a story of both local and international significance, the pressure is on. But, and this is a big but, we, the representatives of the fourth estate, must remember why we entered into this unforgiving and underpaid profession in the first place. The answer is not to end up with blood on our hands. Or to become part of the news cycle itself.

It is therefore hoped that Asia Bibi will soon be truly safe in a foreign land. In the meanwhile, we will remind the PTI of its failure to prepare ahead of the SC verdict.

Let’s not delude ourselves. Asia Bibi and her family are not safe given the inability of the state to prosecute extremists who damaged public property, issued death threats to judges and lashed out at the Army. The very least PTI government can do is to let Asia live in peace.  *

Published in Daily Times, November  9^th 2018.