Re: Pakistan one of 10 WORST countries for press freedom
I am against over-freedom of press.
I think pakistan has a decent and free press.
Sadly.... in my own country the over-free press has turned itself into a tabloid.
The press has now become an institution for corruption.....there are several examples for that.
I personally don't think that an Overly-Free press can contribute in any significant way for a nations development.
Whole world knows China has state controlled media (they are not mentioned in the above list though)
.......and with all restrictions on press China is still the world's fastest growing economy, notice the significant change in the lives of it's citizens since past few years.
I agree...there's so much involved that's attached with values, the public's comprehension and so on...it's not black and white like freedom yes or freedom no. This govt has created a balanced scenario which is very clearly skewed to the press side, and yet the press remains instantiated...
Re: Pakistan one of 10 WORST countries for press freedom
Absolutely!
Ansar Abbasi needs to spend some time with Najam Sethi and learn how well journalists were able to scare the govts or indulge in the luxury of cheena-jhapti with the govt (or opposition for that matter) in the past…or maybe he was a kid back then to remember…
Re: Pakistan one of 10 WORST countries for press freedom
Isn't it somewhat non-sensical to expect press freedom or anyother such freedom in a dictatorship?
As long as a large section of people keep getting comfort from denial - DENIAL that somehow Musharaf represents anything different and benevelont over anyother dictator in anyother part of the world at any point in history - nothing else matters.
Under his 'benevelont gaze' the country is being looted by the army, no constitutional structure is safe and in fact have all been attacked and partly decimated, relegious fanaticism is intensifying, occurrences of explosions in civilian gatherings are on the rise. There are some good news coming out in a macro economic sense but hardly trustworthy.
I will also add tht it matters that the country has become the laughing stock of the world at best and being viewed as source of terrorism most often.
Re: Pakistan one of 10 WORST countries for press freedom
Dr Shahid Masood had an ex DG IB Masood Sharif over on his 'Mere Mutabiq' program few days ago. Very ingeniously he tried to ask him "do agencies (ISI/MI/IB etc) have journalists on their pay roll?"
The ex DG very casually stated that there have always been journalists siding with the govt, receiving benefits and so on. He said there were many in his time, before him, must be now too and will be in the future as well. Visibly in haste Dr Shahid asked him, "but not all right...?" to which the exDG (to Dr Shahid's relief) said that of course not all.
So if there are journalists on the govt's payroll through the agencies, wouldn't one think there'd be an equal if not greaer no. of journalists/reporters/writers/analysts/media-groups on the opposition's side as well and on party payrolls, receiving various benefits!?
Because after all an opposition is more enthusiastic and full time employed in efforts to destabilize a govt as compared to a govt trying to prevent any could-be possible anti-govt activity/perception.
And at present, since it is hard to find pro-govt (so called) 'analysts', who's payroll are they all on these days...cause surely it doest look like the govt or agencies have many pro-govt journalists lately...!?
More emphasis on this since, apparently the govt says it has allowed freedom and the press says there isn't any...But their anti-govt rhetoric confirms that the govt is right and they do have the freedom to express what they want against the govt, while their claims that there isn't any freedom while continuing with the unprofessional anti-govt political campaigning and siding with opposition figures to ridicule the govt and its institutions again shows they are wrong and they indeed have the freedom to express and chose--Chose right or wrong or chose a better rewarding benefactor; which apparently is the opposition at the moment, hence almost the entire press being anti-govt lately.
Re: Pakistan one of 10 WORST countries for press freedom
Dr Shahid Masood had an ex DG IB Masood Sharif over on his 'Mere Mutabiq' program few days ago. Very ingeniously he tried to ask him "do agencies (ISI/MI/IB etc) have journalists on their pay roll?"
The ex DG very casually stated that there have always been journalists siding with the govt, receiving benefits and so on. He said there were many in his time, before him, must be now too and will be in the future as well. Visibly in haste Dr Shahid asked him, "but not all right...?" to which the exDG (to Dr Shahid's relief) said that of course not all.
So if there are journalists on the govt's payroll through the agencies, wouldn't one think there'd be an equal if not greaer no. of journalists/reporters/writers/analysts/media-groups on the opposition's side as well and on party payrolls, receiving various benefits!?
Because after all an opposition is more enthusiastic and full time employed in efforts to destabilize a govt as compared to a govt trying to prevent any could-be possible anti-govt activity/perception.
And at present, since it is hard to find pro-govt (so called) 'analysts', who's payroll are they all on these days...cause surely it doest look like the govt or agencies have many pro-govt journalists lately...!?
More emphasis on this since, apparently the govt says it has allowed freedom and the press says there isn't any...But their anti-govt rhetoric confirms that the govt is right and they do have the freedom to express what they want against the govt, while their claims that there isn't any freedom while continuing with the unprofessional anti-govt political campaigning and siding with opposition figures to ridicule the govt and its institutions again shows they are wrong and they indeed have the freedom to express and chose--Chose right or wrong or chose a better rewarding benefactor; which apparently is the opposition at the moment, hence almost the entire press being anti-govt lately.
Talk shows and opposition member statements does not mean a free press. Have a look at the Official Secrets Act...its understandable to have such an act covering Ministies of Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs but in Pakistan, this Act also applies to such ministries as : Ministry of eduction, Environment, and so on.
Why wont the govt. allow investigative journalism to thrive? It is to be said that the TV channels find it easier to do talk shows but look at what Dawn has to go through for publishing Herald and u'll figure out why channels r holding back.
Do u know what actually goes on in Balochistan? or Waziristan? I don't.
Re: Pakistan one of 10 WORST countries for press freedom
[QUOTE]
Dr Shahid Masood had an ex DG IB Masood Sharif over on his 'Mere Mutabiq' program few days ago. Very ingeniously he tried to ask him "do agencies (ISI/MI/IB etc) have journalists on their pay roll?"
The ex DG very casually stated that there have always been journalists siding with the govt, receiving benefits and so on. He said there were many in his time, before him, must be now too and will be in the future as well. Visibly in haste Dr Shahid asked him, "but not all right...?" to which the exDG (to Dr Shahid's relief) said that of course not all.
So if there are journalists on the govt's payroll through the agencies, wouldn't one think there'd be an equal if not greaer no. of journalists/reporters/writers/analysts/media-groups on the opposition's side as well and on party payrolls, receiving various benefits!?
[/QUOTE]
Who needs an ex DG IB to tell us this.
Its known to everyone. People like Nazir Naji, Ainak Wala Jin etc have been on gov's paryoll. Ataulhaq qasmi used to be a pall of NS and got job as an ambassador overseas.