Daily Times

Recent attacks on journalists Hamid Mir and Raza Rumi are clear examples that a culture of controlling journalists by bribes, intimidation, threats and attempts on their lives prevails in our country. We must confess that organised terrorism took guidance and inspiration from the already existing corrupt political and social system of Pakistan. The dismal conclusion is that journalists are not allowed to act independently. They not only have to look towards the seat of power before writing or saying something, but remain ever vigilant regarding the interests of political pressure groups, terrorist wings of political parties and, above all, terrorist organisations that have international agendas and do not care for governments and international organisations.
These incidents reminded me of my recent visit to the US. It felt extremely odd whenever we discussed our problems with American journalists, because our social and political tendencies and the conduct of our political system appear to have nothing common with the west. Eight people were selected and invited for an exchange programme, the International Visitor’s Leadership Program. The objective of the programme was to visit different TV channels, newspaper outlets, meet our counterparts and get to know how they work, what opportunities they have that we lack, and how journalism is different in the US from Pakistan. It also gave us the opportunity for people-to-people contact so that we could understand what people there think about Pakistan.
Since our category for the programme was ‘Journalism and Security’, the focus was exploring issues like maintaining objectivity, personal safety and ethical standards while reporting from dangerous areas, and to learn about the tools for promoting journalists’ safety while on assignment. As the title of the programme suggests, only those journalists were considered for selection who had witnessed unfavourable circumstances, threats and intimidation while doing their jobs. All of us in one or another way had problems and pressures from different influential sections of society, a few had direct threats from terrorist groups and when I say ‘terrorist groups’ I include sectarian, ethnic and political terrorists — they have different objectives but the effect of their activities is equally lethal. Coming back from the US, as a journalist from Pakistan I was impressed by the working conditions for the US media, which of course benefits from free speech and access to public information. During the programme I learned of a case where the governor of a state gave up his position because he was found harassing women. This shows that journalists in the US have real power to put pressure on corrupt officials and politicians. It is an example of a strong civil society. I also appreciated the professionalism of the people, their honesty and dedication to their work and the respect they have for the journalism we do in Pakistan. When I and other journalists shared our difficulties and the threats we face during work, our American counterparts were surprised to learn of our working conditions and their questions were along the lines of, “Don’t you have any journalist associations?” Or, “Why do your media houses allow you to report from danger-zones without the necessary safety measures?”
The reality is bitter. We have many journalist associations but they are dysfunctional. Our media houses wait for their journalists to get killed by terrorists and then announce compensation for their families. What could we tell them other than how unfortunate it is that our cameras and other equipment are insured but not our lives? It would not be fair to blame security and law enforcement agencies for what is going on in our country. They themselves are on top of the hit list. Politicians and religious figures known for their disagreement with groups fighting against the state also live with uncertainty. Many have been killed. In such a chaotic situation, it is not possible to ensure the safety of every single journalist. What is the way out? We must realise that we are part of an extremely corrupt society. Resistance to wrong deeds and unfair means has dropped to zero. This enhances the magnitude of any social problem. Hence, we are crumbling under a burden that is multiplied by our poor response to the problem. We need a two-pronged plan to handle the situation. In the long term, a process of social refinement is needed with the help of popular national figures and icons with special focus on the youth. In the short term, close coordination is needed among the security agencies, representatives of media groups, journalist organisations and government to ensure all possible security arrangements for journalists under threat.
The purpose of what I wrote above was to show that as a journalist from a country where your voice can be forcefully suppressed, where you may be killed for expressing religious or political views, observing journalism in the US was like a dream. We also have the same dream, freedom of expression, freedom as a person, religious freedom, freedom to think, to understand by ourselves, freedom that is equal for men and women, poor and rich, Shia or Sunni or Christian. Now the question comes to mind of what western society did to make this dream come true that we could not or did not do. Is our corrupt political system the reason? At this critical phase in our history as a country and as a nation, we cannot just leave our fate to the vagaries of time or the mercy of our corrupt and incompetent rulers. We cannot even innocently continue to believe that everything will be all right, magically or providentially. This is the time when we, in our own capacities, have to reject this system, starting with ourselves and our own homes. We have to say no to every wrong. We ask for freedom of speech and media, but for that we have to expose and eliminate the black sheep within us first. We have to change ourselves. Enough of looking towards government, whatever now needs to be done we have to do, and for that we need the help of popular and influential elements of the society — those who are considered heroes, who people listen to, e.g. our sportsmen, artists, singers, actors, and writers. We have to give them access to the masses, from village to village, and provide those people positive activities in sports, in music, in the arts, etc.
During my visit to the US I hardly found anyone talking politics; they do not have time to waste in useless discussions because they have such productive jobs that on working days they are too busy with their work and on weekends they play. Our dilemma is that we have such limited sources of entertainment that we indulge in politics. Unfortunately, our government does not realise how they can engage the youth in positive activities. It is time to provide facilities and opportunities to youngsters so that instead of indulging in drugs, robberies or terrorism, they join in sports, singing, acting or painting. To start with, it is very important that we, media professionals, take the initiative to find positive activities for the youth, and not just in a few cities — we need to go from village to village, giving people access to positive activities. This is the only way towards betterment and prosperity.

The writer is a news anchor