Mushrraf has successfully crushed the judiciary…but judges don’t have guns. So, that was easy, but credit must be given to media and journalists who are still fighting this fight. They must be saluted for their sacrifices. 
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=81971
The media betrayed
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Farahnaz Ispahani
“Let down by the west and betrayed by the media.” With these words General Pervez Musharraf tried to convince his audience that it is they who do not understand what he means, how he acts and why he acts. Ironically, the more he tries to be believable the more confusing his arguments become.
The introduction of new laws to regulate the print and electronic media only reflect a deep desire by the government to check the flow of information in an age when controlling the media is next to impossible. This is an era of satellite television, Internet connectivity, and mobile telephony. Recent statistics released by the Pakistan Telecom Authority stated that on one-day (July 20) cell phone subscribers in the country exchanged 400 million text messages. That was the day when the Supreme Court of Pakistan restored the Chief Justice of Pakistan to his office.
This heavy exchange of text messages on that day, when all satellite channels were also on air, shows that the people of Pakistan are deeply concerned about the state of affairs in our country. They keep a watch on significant happenings and react to all major developments. Even with full access to cable and satellite television, it was important for people to exchange opinions, and greetings, about the Chief Justice’s restoration to his position.
If access to TV channels is denied or limited, the flow of information would continue through text messages on cell phones. If the government shut down mobile telephones, it would run the risk of isolating Pakistan and undermining the business climate. After the recent clampdown on the media by the Musharraf regime, the quest and thirst of Pakistanis for news and information increased. This was reflected in the increased recourse to Internet, international channels and access through dish antennas even as cable operators complied with government demands.
But in their current state of mind, Pakistani rulers seem to believe that the existence of Pakistan and possibly the whole world depends only on General Musharraf’s survival in power, with unchecked authority. After banning independent television channels at home, external influence was exercised to cancel the up linking facility of two channels from Dubai Media City. Little, if any, attention was given to the fact that such a step could jeopardize Dubai’s reputation as a media safe haven.
**What is very alarming is that to undermine one or two media groups, the President of Pakistan could go to the extent of making personal calls and requests. This confirms if any confirmation was necessary, that our rulers do not think beyond their personal agendas. After all, what respect would the rulers of other countries accord a government that needs outside help to solve what are essentially domestic political issues?
Earlier TV channels were blocked all over Pakistan hours before general Musharraf imposed Martial Law under the name of State of Emergency. The plug was pulled, and private satellite channels went off the air without prior notice, leaving only state-run PTV to dish out official propaganda.** Since then, official statements have been very provocative. Musharraf’s argument seems to be that since he had allowed these channels to come up and therefore had the right to turn them off. The King giveth, the King taketh.
**Such statements could only come from someone who has no idea about the history of the struggle for freedom of press in Pakistan. As far as the growth of satellite channels in the country is concerned one must not forget that allowing media freedom was not a choice for Pakistan’s establishment. It was their compulsion.
During the Kargil conflict the Pakistani establishment had learnt the bitter lesson that PTV commanded only a limited audience. People watched Zee News and other Indian channels to get the other side of the story.** In this backdrop it was decided that Pakistan needed its own independent electronic media channels. If alternative Pakistani news sources were available, Pakistanis would not turn to Indian channels for news.
It is to the credit of the electronic media channels that they not only established their credibility but also created successful business models for their sustenance. Not that one can vouch for the objectivity and impartiality of the Pakistan media or for that matter any other media, always. But nowhere in the world is the criterion of objectivity for the media defined as constantly toeing the line of the establishment. This unique definition of objectivity --only to present the establishment’s perspective --is applied in Burma, in some Middle Eastern countries and now in Pakistan.
The government’s line of argument is that putting curbs on media was necessary in the interest of the country and for the success of the war against terror. But creating an information vacuum can only lead to spreading of rumours and thereby undermine the purposes of the anti-terror effort. It was the absence of a free media that led to rumours recently of a military coup and resulted in the biggest one-day fall on the Karachi Stock Exchange in over eighteen months.
The government’s recipes for a controlled and conformist Pakistan are only serving to make more and more people move towards the realization that they are helpless against an overwhelming State establishment. The feeling is spreading that change cannot be brought about through peaceful means, through the primacy of the law and constitution and by increasing public awareness. So far Pakistan’s civil society is engaging in every form of peaceful protest available to save our basic freedoms however if this kind of despondency gains further ground, the elite of Pakistan can rest assured that the day will not be far when violent Italianisation will knock at our doors.
The writer has worked as a journalist with major US news organisations including ABC, CNN, VOA and NBC. She is currently associated with the media cell of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Email: [email protected]