Daily Times

The importance of the media can be gauged from the fact that it has been informally considered as the fourth pillar of the state. Having been endowed with the responsibility to inform the public, it is the dissemination of undiluted truth, which complicates the situation for media. As a consequence, media persons are subjected to repressive tactics by the government of the day; a practice common in almost every corner of the world. Similarly, Pakistan is also not immune to media censorship; harassment of media persons and sources causing rifts between media houses for vested interests. Media persons themselves have equally contributed to their strangulation.

Media is at the receiving end of the government’s anathema throughout the world. Uncle Sam is at the forefront in this regard. Donald Trump has a particular apathy to media houses such as CNN, New York Times, etc., which he oft-expresses conspicuously. In November 2018, CNN’s Jim Acosta asked a question from President Trump regarding immigration and Mexico border issue. To which, he became so furious that Acosta’s microphone was cut off. President Trump remarked, “Honestly, I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN, and if you did it well, your ratings would be much better.” Besides, his press credentials were revoked by the White House. This behaviour is unbecoming of a president of the sole superpower. The situation in Russia, China and other parts of the world is equally distressing.

In Pakistan, almost every government, since its inception, has left no stone unturned to control media. However, the dictatorial Zia regime unleashed the worst forms of media censorship; also setting the tone for successive governments. Brief democratic dispensations did not hesitate to tread the path trailblazed by the Zia dictatorship vis-à-vis stifling media freedom. As late columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee reminded my generation that when any editorial was censored by the then Information ministry, the space used to be left blank for letting the readers know that the publication of that piece was denied by the regime. After Zia’s air crash, it was hoped that the era of censorship had gone away. Contrarily, democratically-elected governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were equally fatal to the press freedom. Sharif was so furious at Najam Sethi in his second stint as the prime minister that he wanted the then COAS Pervez Musharaf to initiate a case against Sethi in the military court to settle the score. Recently, Musharaf corroborated that account.

Additionally, the fate of the media is also far from ideal in the present-era. The PTI-led government has also tried to stringently regulate media, which was, indeed, tantamount to sending a loud and clear message to the journalistic community to toe the official line or face the music. The government’s move to establish Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) sought to bring electronic, print and cyber media under its umbrella. Moreover, the idea was floated to establish media tribunals for tackling media-related cases within 90 days. These and other such measures were to tighten the noose around the media. Paradoxically, when Imran Khan was out of power, he was an ardent proponent of the free press and participated in street talk shows during the Musharaf era. Now that he is in the government saddle, he is bent on imposing media censorship using the tools of regulation and tribunals.

Admittedly, the media persons are also somewhat responsible for such media curbs. They remain divided into different camps. Some of them are dancing at the government’s tune and their backers while others to their opponents’, disregarding the journalistic responsibilities. Resultantly, the situation has always been exploited by vested interests.

Media creates awareness regarding the fruits of democracy and fosters a culture of accountability

There is a need for the media persons to realise their responsibility for disseminating unbiased information to the public. Not all but few media persons’ and media houses’ credibilities and reporting are certainly questionable as we have seen media persons issuing verdicts against politicians as corrupt. Recently, a headline made rounds on several channels regarding late actor Abid Ali’s death despite him being alive. Unnecessary coverage was often given to sensational events such as Malik Muhammad Sikander episode in Islamabad. Unsubstantiated allegations have been levelled against citizens while meaningless breaking news continues to run the show.

As one of my teachers once said due to the increased number of news channels, if a person falls while riding a bicycle, it becomes a piece of breaking news. Hence, it behoves the media to act more responsibly and restore its credibility. It will help them collectively resist the arbitrary decisions of the government of the day. The public will be at the forefront as they were during the judiciary restoration movement. It was also the unfettered collective media and public power that helped reverse the coup attempt in Turkey back in 2016. The combination can do the wonders for a strong democracy, accountable system and the prosperity of society.

It is high time for the government to let the media flourish as it is an indispensable part and parcel of the democratic system. It is media, which creates awareness amongst the masses regarding the fruits of democracy and fosters a culture of accountability as witnessed during the last general election. The masses questioned the candidates regarding their performance when they were part of legislatures. That was widely broadcasted by media; encouraging people to hold electoral candidates to account. On the other hand, the media must ensure that the information being consumed by the public is undiluted and it is worth investing time to watch such programmes. For this purpose, the inclusive committee may be considered, comprising of media persons, PEMRA officials and parliamentarians, to review complaints whether against the regulator, government or the media houses having powers to recommend appropriate actions to the concerned authorities, which shall be binding. Last but not least, strangulating media may benefit individuals but would cause irreparable damage to the democratic system. It is time to let the Pakistani media become the source of information and voice of the downtrodden sections of society, it was destined to be.

The writer is a development sector practitioner