Gruesome murder of Musa Khankhel was the most tragic incident for media and entire country. He was reporting the return of pace in Swat valley but unfortunately reporter was silenced by the anti peace elements. Unknown persons shot dead the correspondent for The News and Geo News in Mingora. He was accompanying the caravan of the Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) from Mingora to Matta to cover the crucial event that had created high hopes for peace in the valley. He was in the line of his journalistic duty when he was kidnapped at gunpoint.
Murder was so heartrending that whole nation mourned with media. Government, opposition, political parties, lawyers and civil society condemned the cruel act on media. Countrywide protest demonstrations held by media organization attended by people from all walks of life. President Asif Ali Zardari announced a compensation for family while Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said a residential plot would be given to the heirs of the slain journalist. NWFP government also announced a special probe team to search the murder while PFUJ also set up a separate investigation panel for inquiry. Journalists from all over the world expressed deep grieve over the killing and urged government to trace culprits as soon as possible to restore the sense of confidence against rising insecurity.
According to a report, dozens journalists had left Swat valley due to violence against media. In Lahore, unidentified men attacked senior journalist Imtiaz Alam the secretary general of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). His car was attacked with batons. He was injured when a shattered window glass struck his arm. Mulana Fazal ur Rehman visited his residence to show solidarity with him and rejected the elements targeting media persons on name of religion. Situation for media is more alarming as two successive attempts were made to destroy Wana Press Club in two separate blasts. It indicates that media is facing stern circumstances from warrior factions in conflict zone as all groups want to control the coverage of chaos. Journalist Noor Hassan of Royal TV was abducted when he was on his way from Peshawar to Swat. Later he was thrown from the car near Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, 30 hours after abduction. Unknown men opened fire at senior journalist Kamal Azfar’s car near Kohat a week after the killing of his brother journalist Amir Wakil. Media persons held protest in front of Karachi Press Club against attack on Channel 5 Reporter, Munawar Hassan. He was manhandled in a rally organized by ANP against a leading newspaper group for improper coverage.
Such incidents of intimidation have inclined the insecurity for working journalists as they can be targeted anytime anywhere during conduct of their professional duties. In Khyber agency, members of the Khassadar force detained two journalists Master Ali Khan Shinwari and Wali Khan Shinwari and allegedly tortured them. A property owned by Mian Saeed ur Rehman president of Bajur press club was destroyed during a rocket attack. In conflict zones, reporting is being done at the cost of lives. Rival groups try to influence reporters to hide facts. As a result, journalists face severe antagonism and threats from rival elements.
Top legal experts argued that instruction by court barring media from reporting against courts and judges are against the fundamental rights guaranteed in constitution, such remarks were followed by an order of Lahore High Court when court restricted print and electronic media from publishing and airing news or comments about an alleged scandal of a judge of Lahore high court. Media unions also expressed surprise over the move of the court and argued that court can’t impose such ban as it is against the freedom of expression guaranteed by constitution of Pakistan. Journalists and lawyers called for review of contempt law. Widow of slain TV journalist Azeem Laghari observed a token hunger strike outside the press club Hyderabad, demanding of the authorities to ensure arrest of her husband’s killers. It draws attention that cases of violence against media persons are not properly and timely investigated to apprehend culprits. Through a fair trial of cases of antagonism and violence, confidence of journalists can be restored but unfortunately most of the incidents are clueless while families are still looking for justice and compensation.
Covering the standing committees’ proceedings is not simple task as legislators discourage the presence of media. It was observed when private Media barred for entering into senate standing committee of Power and Water while only official media were allowed to cover proceedings. While the issue of live media coverage of the Sindh Assembly proceedings by private TV channels echoed in the provincial assembly resulting in the boycott of the house proceedings by the media.
Politicians are still not happy with the brave role of media for highlighting the issues of society. Sometimes journalists have to face embarrassing behavior from workers of political parties during their different assignments. In a press conference of Pakistan Muslim League leader Mian Nawaz Shareef in London an interesting situation developed, when Chief Minster Mian Shehbaz Shareef stopped a journalist Raza Syed, a senior British/Pakistani journalist and editor of Vision weekly declaring an ‘agency mole’. Journalist claimed that two prominent leaders of the PML-N tortured him after he was taken out of the conference. Eye-witnesses confirmed that he was taken out by the PML-N. In a public meeting federal food and agriculture minister criticized the role of private channels for defaming politicians through comedy.
Advisor to PM on Interior Rehman Mailk appealed to media to avoid speculations. Noted journalist I.A Rehman said that Media must question “so-called national interest” as defined by various authorities in the country. Both statements argue for the role of media in decision making and policy projection with focus to take media on board about vital conclusions of national security. Changes in national scenario are always very fast and it creates misunderstanding among media, government and other institutions of the state. So to avoid a negative impact on nation, decision makers should discuss all aspects with well informed media before finalizing a national policy to make sure effective outcomes. It is genuine practice in advance countries for successful implementation of policies. In wake of recent political uproar, according to a source a crackdown on media was proposed by some members of cabinet. It is good sign that government rejected such reports immediately. But journalists believe media can be first victim if democracy derailed. In this situation, it is duty of government to take into confidence media and give solid assurance that political reshuffle will not be a bar for media and it will be allowed to work freely to highlight all the characteristics of politics and society. The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting recommended the government to impose a ban on Indian television channels and take action against cable operators relaying the channels; it asked Pemra to stop airing immoral programs. Senate body criticized PTV management for lack of transparency. Federal Information Minster Sherry Rehman announced the retirement of all outstanding dues against the PTV, making the state broadcast network a ‘debt free’ institution. She vowed to uphold freedom of the press, saying free media can help promote democracy and democratic institutions in the country. She announced to conduct safety trainings for journalists of troubled areas. While State Minister Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari said that code of conduct for the television channels was being framed by the broadcasters themselves. NWFP chief minister Ameer Hader Khan Hoti lauded the media role, saying despite militancy and extremism newspapers are projecting true picture of people’s will and aspirations. Sindh Minister for Information Technology, Mohammad Raza Haroon said a media city will be established in Karachi and an expression of interest (EOI) would be published in this respect within the year. SC admitted for regular hearing a petition against alleged illegal appointments of reporters and subeditors in APP. High Court Multan bench ordered National Press Trust to ensure payment of dues and pension to employees of Daily amroze.
CPNE announced to set up a fund to help victim journalist of conflict areas while also established a Kashmir committee to draft a strategy about newspapers of Kashmir as well as a liaison and fund raising committee. Khalid Hassan a veteran Pakistani journalist and acclaimed author of several books died of cancer in US. Sherry Rehman suggested launching of an excellence award for journalists to pay tribute to late Khalid Hasan’s journalistic work. Senior journalist Ruman Ehsan passed away in Lahore.
State of media in February clearly indicates that the media is still experiencing hard time. Professional journalists are facing unsympathetic conditions and reporting from war zones is most thorny task. Government and warrior factions are signing peace accords. Nation is content that peace deals will restore tranquility. There are many genuine reasons for media to keep hope alive that confidence should also be guaranteed for media to conduct professional duties in security. Media has given free will and awareness to nation so it also deserves a peace for development. Any mistake against media can lead to a chaos. Free, independent and secure media is also equally important like peace deals; it is duty of media stakeholders to ink a covenant to invoke sense of security for the development of healthy journalistic norms.
The writer is a Islamabad-based research analyst on media, security and democracy
http://www.thepost.com.pk/OpinionNews.aspx?dtlid=204923&catid=11
www.pakobserver.net/200903/03/Articles02.asp
http://worldtribunepakistan.com/news_detail.php?page_id=10207
June 13th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
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