Re: 75 tv channels to be operative by year-end: Durrani
Brother, actually whatever Pakistan got in media freedom, it is because government allowed private channels in numbers. Else, it was impossible for anyone in Pakistan to start their private channel or even radio stations; rather it was even difficult to start private newspapers.
Most Pakistani private newspapers depend on Government advertisements and in past even what papers for their newspaper, they use to get with government permission.
This is how government use to control media. But when President Musharraf came to power, he liberalised Media, not just because they are not controlled by government through Laws, Corrosions, and Harassment, but by giving permission to start private TV channels, let them prosper in the country, and let media become independent of Government regulations.
This is the way to give media freedom … In UK media was once almost completely government controlled, but when British government gave permission to ITV (private TV channel) TV media became a bit free, once Ch4 (Private channel) started transmitting media became more free and later CH5 (private channel) made TV media further free.
Actually private media and their numbers are directly proportional to how much the media is free. If government wants to control media, they would have to stop all private media, except those that would follow government lines, and that is the way to control media.
It is difficult to stop written media as in controlled environment, they go underground. There effects get reduced but still they stay active. But it is very easy for government to ban TV and Radio media, as that need open air transmission.
Present government of President Musharraf tolerates, rather encourages free media. Let see what would happen down the line when there would be no Pervaiz Musharraf and corrupt would come back to power. Though I think that since present government has given such awareness to masses, it would be very difficult if not impossible to curb the media again (may not be difficult for any future dictator, but certainly elected government would find it very difficult to curb media again even though they would love to).
