Daily Times

Pakistan is a problem-ridden country, and if those problems are not identified and highlighted, how can we expect their solutions in future? Pakistan army’s Director General (DG) ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor called upon the media on December 6, 2018. The purpose of this media gathering was to create public awareness and project a positive image of Pakistan. In his address, DG ISPR explained that media is the opinion maker and the fourth pillar of state. In addition, he directed media to portray good things and progressive image of Pakistan, at least for six months. He said, “We are standing at the watershed of history and fighting fifth generation hybrid war through perceptions and narratives.” Afterwards, DG ISPRexpressed his political opinions, and commented many times in his press conferences and twitter.

Pakistan is a democratic state constitutionally, but traditional four-star gladiators of Pakistan are dictating and regulating media and parliament openly and publicly now. Welcome to the four star democracy of Pakistan.

A free media, a sitting opposition and a treasury bench are three major prerequisites of an ideal democratic government setting in the modern times. Opposition evaluates and criticises the treasury benches in parliament; media works as a check on both, and tries to show the true picture of all affairs to the public. Media is supposed to display both bright and dark snapshots with honesty.

A free media, a sitting opposition and a treasury bench are three major prerequisites of an ideal democratic government setting in the modern times

No doubt, DG ISPR floated a very clear concept of a hybrid war in 2018. Perceptions and narratives rather than tanks are the main weapons of the hybrid war, also called the fifth generation war. But a political and constitutional question arises: who has the authority or the right to decide about inception of a hybrid war. I would be happy if parliament of Pakistan had legitimised, and the PM had announced the hybrid war against enemies and problems of Pakistan. But here, a person in uniform announced this war, and dictated media to cooperate and follow. That’s why I call Pakistan a four star democracy where army is supposed to lead and the rest of the country to follow.

Media is a major tool in the era of communication revolution, and it shapes opinion efficiently. But the problem is that media of any country cannot fool the whole nation or whole world for a long time. Mind control science is a useful concept in the context of a hybrid war. Minds of a nation can be controlled through books, schooling, academic curriculum, newspapers and electronic media. Media is the prominent opinion maker, and it can float and advocate or propagate some particular narrative or perceptions. Now Pakistan is not developing and is standing on the brink of bankruptcy, but DG ISPR dictates media to film or display a developing and good image of Pakistan. Would it be fair? In my point of view, such kind of ostrich-ism or self-delusion can be suicidal and lethal in the long run for us, and it will lead Pakistan to the ultimate disaster, or at least, nowhere. I am not convinced or highly convinced with the strategy proposed by DG ISPR.

It’s quite pragmatic to think about an economic warfare rather than hybrid warfare. Pakistani politicians ruled the country for almost three decades, and they failed on the economic front, from bottom to top. The comprehensive defeat and surrender of political leadership on economic war fronts created a space for army to interfere in economic and political affairs. I suggest that PM Imran Khan should declare an economic warfare in the country in his next address, and he should explain the tools and strategies of the economic warfare in a classified form. Maybe DG ISPR was inspired to declare hybrid war after listening to PM Khan’s side-splitting scholarship of economy, which is limited to just chickens and eggs.

Pakistan is a problem-ridden country, and if those problems are not identified and highlighted, how can we expect their solutions in future? For instance, today’s dollar rate is Rs 159.55; how can media hide it?

Pakistan is confronted with an economic war, and we should search for and invest in weapons of economic warfare. A hybrid war is not the relevant solution, and it cannot help Pakistan to become a developed country. Let’s make Pakistan a great economy again. Military-regulated hybrid war, tanks, F-16 and machine guns cannot deliver us a prosperous Pakistan. PM Khan please wake up before it is too late. Pakistan Zindabad.

The writer is a lecturer at the Department of Sociology, Government College University Faisalabad. He can be reached atsajidmahmoodsajid@gmail.com