Musicians on the ban on news
In this concluding part, Instep Today brings you soundbytes from the music industry on the news channels being taken off air in Pakistan. They are largely apathetic to the blank screens where news used to be…
Maheen Sabeeh
Karachi
Once upon a time, it seems not too long ago, but it is actually a very long time ago Pervez Musharraf came and took charge of Pakistan. He let private channels beam into our homes,
stood on stage with Junoon and gave Faakhir Pride of Performance, smoked a cigar and relaxed at the Karafilm Festival in 2005, recommended others to go and watch Khuda Kay Liye. In return, the entertainment industry has defended him on days when even the strongest Musharraf supporters were going through a change of heart. The music industry is now divided on the banning of news channels. Most of them feel that this media was irresponsible in its approach to political matters.
“The media had an opportunity to be responsible but the media had let go of all their aesthetics,” says Ali Hamza and adds, “taali do haaton sey bajti hai (it takes two hands to clap). Everyone had a role to play in what has happened today, the judiciary and the media.” Of course President Musharraf’s role in the way he dealt with these pillars of democracy is a non-issue for musicians who believe that news channels are responsible for what has happened.
Rohail Hyatt says, “Now that all the news channels are off air, it suddenly hits you how far we had come and how Musharraf had given freedom. This is a glimmer of how things were back in the day when we were growing up. What is the 24 hours of negativity? Are there no good things that have happened or are happening? This doomsday scenario that was being played out by the media all the time was irresponsible. Media, news channels are a platform and it shapes the views of the people, the nation.”
Rohail holds news channels responsible for the news mix and projecting that everything is going downhill.
Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan agrees with him. “To a certain extent media did cross a line. There are limits to everything. The Lal Masjid footage shouldn’t have been shown on television because it really destroyed our image in the world, the image we have been struggling to change for so long.”
And other musicians like Abbas Ali Khan present a view which is rather mind boggling.
“To some extent media is responsible Negativity has been in the air for the last few months,” he recalls. “Back in the old days, even when the political situation was bad, people were living in some peace because there was little propaganda on television. Now people are living in constant fear.”
Ali Hamza, Rohail, Shafqat and Abbas like their news dumbed down, without edge, rosy. Let’s forget about the judicial crisis and concentrate on the flyovers being built. The apathy of musicians to the cause of free media is mind boggling. If anyone should know what it’s like to be banned and put out of sight by those in power it’s them. But then again, reporting the truth for what it is and selling lullabies of love are two different ballgames. I personally feel that our news channels were controversial because Pakistan is a controversial country and couldn’t understand where these guys were coming from at all until one member from the music fraternity put it all in perspective.
Fuzon guitarist Shallum Xavier says: “The emergency is not fair on the music industry. Music is the most consistent form of entertainment in Pakistan. Even before the emergency, the political scenario had become a soap opera and the nation had been tuning in to see what was developing on a daily basis. The news channels had suddenly become entertainment channels whereas the entertainment industry had been sidelined.”
An honest take on the situation at last!
The music industry hasn’t gotten much attention in the last few months because even as channels have been around, the masses are focused on news. But isn’t that what is more
important? Perhaps it is being sidelined that has led our iconic musicians resenting the fact that the masses of Pakistan have of late been hooked onto hard news and not their music. But do we really want to live in a world where music thrives as lawyers, activists and journalists are being baton charged by police men?
While one understands the fears of the music industry – they thrive on fame and glory - it is certainly not the time to take this selfish approach. This is about Pakistan and its leadership who is threatening unarmed men and women because they are taking a stand on an issue. It is not about videos anymore or gigs. But when will our singers realize this?
Media has a social responsibility and there is no denying it. However, the nature of Pakistani politics is such that it is hard to put a positive spin on it. How can one put a positive side to journalists being beaten up, illegal arrests, constitution being molded again and again, CJ being expelled or suspended, bomb blasts and the inability of the government to control the situation in Waziristan and now Swat?
Omran Shafique is one of the few musicians to get it. “You can’t hold the media responsible,” he says firmly. “The job of media and of reporters is to report things as they are. They can be positive or negative. The nature of news is such that it is usually negative. You can’t blame them for doing their jobs.”
He is joined by a shocked Ali Haider who said: “This same government gave media independence when it came into power and now the same government has stripped the media from its independence.” Ali admits to being saddened by it.
Musicians, like always, refuse to take a political stand. Music channels are on air and they are in business so far. This too shall pass and they’ll be able to play their guitars in open air again. And if news channels aren’t their to cover the concerts, they won’t be missed. Videos are on and all is okay on the small sonic island of Music-dom in Pakistan where songs of free speech are simply not sung.
Their attitude is more ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ than anything else. ‘Bol Keh Lub Azad Hain Teray’ belongs in some forgotten book on some dusty shelf.
…tru