TV THOUGHTS: Reporting TV News with time - delay equipment: Marina Khan - Abrar Pirzada talk of our pets

As if an indicator or barometer of the media climate in the country comes this statement from the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) that "it is of the considered opinion that 'engagement with the Ministry of Information under prevailing circumstances is a futile exercise when the government is consistently curbing the expression of press freedom through arbitrary actions.'
The APNS executive which met in Karachi last week noted that the government had failed to honour its assurances to hold meaningful bilateral talks with the owner of Geo TV network and unravel the issues, as a step forward towards confidence building measures.
The APNS also said that the government had not only failed to withdraw its amending ordinances relating to print and electronic media but had additionally issued new preposterous instructions vide Pemra Ordinance IXV of 2007 to private satellite channels for restricting them in 'airing live coverage and taking live calls'. The Broadcasters have also been advised to install time delay equipment within their systems - and there is a threat to revoke the broadcaster's licence, as well as award punishment if there are violations.
The APNS members have authorised the President to "take necessary steps to impress upon the government to restore its advertisements to the Jang group and withdraw the ban on the Geo TV network without any further delay so that the dialogue on press freedom can be placed on the right path."
The APNS executive deplored the ban on the Geo TV network cable distribution in Pakistan, which still continues, and demanded lifting of the ban on advertisements to the Jang group from the Federal and provincial governments, which were completely stopped from October 2007(last week). And it is pertinent to mention here that from the Geo Television network has come an "Appeal to our President" which was published in The News on 17th December, 2007. It ends with this "Please help us live".
The appeal says at the outset that "the Constitution of Pakistan has been restored, Emergency has been lifted and the PCO has been withdrawn. Mr President, congratulations. You have kept your promise".
The appeal then underlines that there is still one other issue that requires the President's urgent attention. And this is media freedom. And independent media will further strengthen the road to democracy.
The appeal looks at the future to say that it would be difficult for the President to defend or support the media when and if it is attacked next - by future political entities. TV viewers are focused on the issue of the government ban on the Geo and are speculating what will happen in the days ahead. Similarly there is concern how much of fair, fearless, independent election coverage will be available for the people on the TV channels.
The relationship to between themes relating to the polls, the lawyers movement for the independence of the judiciary, the freedom of the press, and role of the civil society in the present political climate, are some of the many many issues that are agitating the Pakistani mind. And, of course, troubling the heart too.
MY PLEASURES:
I have always enjoyed my writing - and writing this column gives me the advantage of the pleasure of watching, television and responding to it. Even when there was one TV channel, I was fond of it. How much many of us wrote about it! So what if it was PTV! That is what Pakistani society deserved. After all, there has been the much maligned Pakistani cinema, and today that very same cinema is adored by many of the writers, critics and intellectuals! But let me return to TV and the enormous and growing diversity of channels that are available.
I watch television more than the average viewer. Or at least that is what I would like to believe. Not yet a couch potato. I am unhappy that it has affected my overall reading. That is something I am trying to work out.
In watching television at this point in time, and keeping in mind the political context that emerged in March this year with the reference against the former Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, it has to be appreciated that the country and its media have undergone a very involved, stressful and challenging experience. There are many ways of describing this period - and which of course is not yet over.
There are times when I do this column and realise that there are more themes than what one can handle here. I can't watch all that is telecast by so many channels, or even tell you how awfully candid some of the courageous speakers have been.
There are many subjects that I saw being discussed and analysed on the channels this week - the fall of Dhaka, the interview with Air Marshal Asghar Khan (retd), the cricket crisis reflected in the team performance in India and more. Or that utterly fascinating flirtatious conversation between Begum Nawazish and Asif Raza Mir. To these or some of these I will return next week, Inshallah. But the challenge and fear of the TV that is to be watched between filing this column and the next, is something that I will have to work out individually.
I realise that many of life's challenges are solitary exercises, journeying alone, against the wind! The test is not to mistake the strong winds for the gentle breeze.
To television viewers in these electoral times, my humble suggestion will be to stay tuned to the currents affairs and news programmes. There is more in them than what you can imagine. Read in between the lines, and follow the humour in the 'Four-Man Show', for instance. That's on Aaj TV, - in case you still don't know and are tuned into some old Indian classic film on irresistible Indian channels. I have said this before and will say it again. I like the facial expressions of impatience and disgust on the face of Khalid Butt. I hope I have his name right. All these names on TV cramp my style and I can't carry a jotter's notebook all the time.
Shall I tell you the numerous burdens I carry? Perhaps one fine day, I will. No Pemra monitors would be able stop me!! That would make APNS glad, I believe!!
HAJ LIVE TELECAST:
About 2.5 million Muslims from the world over performed Haj 1428 on 18th December 2007 and the television available to TV viewers telecast live from the Maidan-e-Arafat. The Khutba (sermon) of Mufti-e-Azam Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah was telecast live in Arabic from the Nimera mosque and there were translations in Urdu, English and even Bengali (ATN channels). From the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Saudi Arabian TV there was an English translation that was available for viewers worldwide.
I would like to believe that this was heard with interest by viewers everywhere. There was also telecast the Zuhr and Asr prayers. (which was 3.10pm Pakistan Standard Time). It was so inspiring to hear the Azan from there. The sermon of the Shaikh Abdul Aziz provided viewers with plenty to think about both at the individual and the societal level. I hope these sermons are available on CDs for the public.
MARINA TALKS OF PETS:
Given the point that an increasing number of people are opting for pets in this society, one has wondered why the electronic media in particular and the mass media in general, has not found a regular reasonable time slot for cats and dogs, and birds and fish and so on. It would have high viewership evidently. It may be mentioned here that TV channels do have occasional programmes that focus on the themes of pets, but it is done seldom, and is not enough.
Some channels have interviews and film reports on the subject of pets, but one difficulty for pet owners is that they are unable to know the time of the telecast.
I would like to share my recent experience in this regard where a very useful programme on pets on the Ary Digital was telecast in the morning show that Marina Khan does regularly. I must mention here that she began doing the show after Nadia Khan, another successful anchor person who moved over to Geo some time ago. However on a point in this show under mention Marina Khan gave the credit to her predecessor Nadia Khan for having introduced the lady (Rukhsana?) who does a PT show in which Marina Khan also participates so as to motivate the viewers.
But let me return to the Marina Khan show on pets and vets, in which the principal attraction was the popular Veterinary doctor Abrar Pirzada, who wore a very simple, but stylish beige coloured jacket for the interview. I saw a part of the interview when it was telecast in the morning, live.
In my channel surfing that night I saw the interview again, but was too sleepy to keep awake throughout. For Dr Abrar Pirzada's interview was laced with segments like exercise, medical advice, cooking and so on. But whatever I could hear was a reflection of the growing interest in pets in this city. Even he said that Karachi had the highest number of pets in the country.
Now on 18th December (Tuesday) morning in a repeat telecast of the same morning show on Ary Digital. I presume that given the nature and frequency of repeat telecasts on the channels, sometimes TV viewers get the opportunity to see what they have missed or would like to see again On the other hand they may also get to see what was enough, for once!!
But it was good to see that pet talk (!) again, informative and motivating as well. Dr Abrar Pirzada is the son of the seasoned Mohammad Hasan Pirzada who has been a family doctor (as Marina Khan described him and his son) and the senior Pirzada has been practising in Karachi since 1964. That is a long innings spread over 43 years. Abrar's younger brother Iftikhar is also in the same line of business and between them one can imagine the contribution they have made in this sensitive field. It would be a good idea to have the three of them together in the same show.
Dr Abrar Pirzada and Marina Khan (she is known for her love of cats, as well as the number that she manages at home) provided valuable help and information to viewers. The doctor speaks with moderation, and his experience reflects in what he says. While the number of vets who deal with cats and dogs can be counted on finger tips (two or three?) the number of practitioners is about ten.
But there are 180 animal doctors who deal in goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, etc I am reminded here of the Society for the Prevention and Cure of Animals which Karachi had at one time. It was managed well by a foreigner (a dedicated lady) after whose demise it is almost off the scene. There were phone calls also for Abrar Pirzada and one of them pertained to the subject of domestic in-house cats being attacked and injured by wild cats. Apart from the anti-rabies injections that should have been administered to pets (cats) it was necessary to look after pets, and ensure their security.
Another point that he advocated strongly was the need to "neuter" cats and dogs, which he said was also in the collective, larger interests of pets, their owners and society. Marina Khan gave his telephone numbers to TV viewers who have pets and those who do not would have found this programme of interest in varying degrees. I could not avoid wondering about the emotional dimension there is to keeping pets, and the affectionate bond that develops between pets and their owners. There are so many questions and thoughts that come to mind.
PML-Q AND TV COMMERCIALS:
While the political parties have been releasing and providing details of their election manifestoes for the January 2008 polls, it seems that the Pakistan Muslim League Q is far ahead in the number and volume of electronic media advertising, that we have seen on the TV channels. The PML-Q TV commercials feature the former Punjab Chief Minister Pervez which reminds me of the Punjab government TV commercials that were telecast in generous measure.
In these elections-related TV commercials the former chief minister is asking the people to cast their vote in favour of the bicycle, (the PML-Q election symbol) if they desire that the progress being made under the present government is to be sustained. Print media advertisements of the PML Q are also being published in Urdu and English language dailies.
TV viewers are wondering when the commercials of the other political parties in the election battle will come up with their TV campaigns. The election fever doesn't appear to have become as high as it can. Has it something to do with the election boycott by some parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Tehrik-e-Insaf, and others.
TV channels are planning extensive election and pre-election coverage and I suppose there will be much to see on the election theme and associated political contexts in the days ahead, as the election and political temperature crises.
TV news reports this Tuesday evening (18th December) been saying that some opposition parties (APDM) have announced that they will step up the campaign to boycott the polls after Eidul Azha. Other opposition parties have announced that they will launch their campaigns after 9th January against the rigged elections.