TV THOUGHTS: Dissenting media voices in our war of values; Focus on Nizam-e-Adl, Dr Afiya, IB story

Two major news stories, at different times on Wednesday evening are the complex themes that one proposes to begin with. First came, the news and the visuals of the manhandling of Pakistani journalists in New Delhi by a group of Hindu extremists party, Sri Ram Sene, in a seminar that reportedly was discussing the role of the media.
It seems that the role of the media is being closely watched and there are opinion groups in society that are asking questions, and making observations and forming their own opinions. What does this mean, in terms of the immediate and long terms future? Is there a symbolism in this?
The other story relates to the suicide attack in Charsadda where reports around midnight indicate that 16 people, including cops, have died. What does this mean now? What has changed and what has remained the same? Who is behind it? The same questions emerge each time and the same concerns. The debate goes on.
Not yet is one focusing on the D-bate that has been initiated by Aaj News with Mehreen Khan being the presenter. It will be interesting to see how topical and controversial will its subjects be.
Of course there is so much controversy and conflict in the country at this point in time, and the TV channels are inundated with themes. As indeed are the TV viewers. And every subject has controversies and dissenting voices which channels are understandably picking up. But there is more available than handled by the TV channels. That is a thought that does cross the mind.
The Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR), which was promulgated during the week, and which was adopted swiftly and smoothly through a resolution by the National assembly on Monday is one of the many issues that are being argued and debated in the country here too there are voices of concern and dissent. Some TV channels have had their panel discussions on this two-month-old theme, and participants (liberal and secular) have openly asked, which Sharia, referring to the obvious age old divide.
And from the US, which does not plan to give Pakistan a blank cheque, has come the statement that it is disappointed with the parliament for having passed the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation. It has opined that the NAR is against human rights and democracy. The deeper implications of what has happened in Swat are being discussed and apprehensions are aplenty. The war of values is beginning to take shape and position on the channels also.
INTELLIGENCE BUREAU: A sort of an eye opener was telecast by Dawn News as breaking news on Sunday night when it reported that a "gradation/seniority list" of Intelligence Bureau officials was placed in a court in September 2007, and that the same list had recently been placed in the Supreme Court by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as a matter of procedure.
The story was repeated several times, and viewers wondered and even waited for more details to follow. That however, did not happen. Evidently the channel chose to be "discreet", perhaps. The story was not picked by some of the other TV channels that I surfed to see what they were saying on this theme.
However, in The Pulse (Business Plus) during the week one saw that a visibly disturbed anchor Jasmeen Manzoor, who has been underlining the alarm that she reads into the prevailing, changing current affairs scenario in the country, (which is another theme of course) referred to this theme. She saw it as a matter of deep concern that names of officials posted here and abroad had been made public, which could have an unfavourable bearing on the functioning of the Bureau.
It has been reported that the director general of the IB had ordered "an inquiry to establish whether and to what extent the people who submitted the list of IB officials in a court (Federal Services Tribunal) were in breach of the Officials Secrets Act and other relevant laws".
The Press Information Department issued a clarification which said that "with reference to the news concerning alleged 'major security blunder' by IB chief 'televised by Dawn News on and carried by a section of the press' a government spokesman has clarified "that the said list was made part of judicial proceedings of the FST by five IB officials in September 2007 in their personal capacity and not officially by any one acting on behalf of the DG IB. And that the present DG IB who took over a year later has nothing to do with this matter.
The PID has also "emphasised that the relevant media persons are expected to be extra vigilant while reporting on sensitive matters which is not in line with the safety and security of the state"
DR AFIYA SIDDIQU: Dr Aamer Liaquat Hussain was particularly forceful in his programme 'Aalim On Line' (Geo) which dealt with the ongoing issue of Dr Afia Siddiqui who remains in the custody of the United States authorities. And while the media keeps reporting on the efforts that are being made to ensure her release, with occasional official statements also the fact is that even on the walls of Karachi there are demands written that she should be set free immediately. And the banners underline that she is a "daughter of Pakistan".
The issue of Dr Afia Siddiqui has been on the TV channels for quite some time, with family members and political parties and members of the civil society demanding that she should be released, and that the whereabouts of her three children should be disclosed.
Indeed for TV viewers, and the citizens of this country while it reminds one of the lingering worrying issue of missing persons, which is another sad theme that is being focused upon quite consistently by a persevering Amna Masood Janjua and others, it also pinpoints the horrifying thoughts that come to mind vis-à-vis the frail looking Dr Afia Siddiqui. Details of how she has suffered in detention are also stated with certain regularity.
In 'Aalim On Line', Dr Aamer Liaquat Hussain, was not only very emotional in his presentation but he also viewed the case of this lady in the specific context of Islam. And to lend depth and authenticity he had two noted Islamic scholars to speak on the lady's detention, and they were Maulana, Dr Asad Thanvi and Hafiz Ibtisam Ilahi Zaheer.
One of the points that Dr Aamer Liaquat emphasised at the outset related to the inadequacy of the campaigns for Dr Afia's release, which made him wonder "about" what are we going to answer to Almighty Allah." He further cautioned (presumably society) that they should forever bear in mind the wrath and punishment (Azaab in Urdu) of Allah. At one point he expressed his fears that she may even be killed in the days ahead.
Maulana Dr Asad Thanvi, who is often seen in various Islamic programmes on different channels, recalled the facts of her case, from the time she was reported missing in 2003, when she left her home in a taxi with her children. He said that it was the government of former President Musharraf, whose government knew of the matter but took no action. The lady landed in the USA in course of time, he said and strongly underlined the need for suo moto action to be taken now.
Aamer Liaquat, the anchor of this show, mentioned that he had visited the lady's family in Karachi and the shattered conditions the members were in. One of the points that he stressed was that it was worth wondering why someone like Dr Afia who had been highly educated in the US was so critical of that "civilised" society. He also made several references to the liberal civil society of this country, observing that it had protested so vociferously for the video on the flogging of a girl in Swat, but had chosen to stay away from the case of Dr Afia Siddiqui. He repeatedly said that the video was considered lacking in authenticity.
This programme also showed towards the end a very disturbing video made in the United States (Ohio?), which Dr Liaquat said sarcastically was from what the world regards as a sophisticated, educated and civilised society. The video telecast for Pakistani viewers was tagged as Parental Guidance (PG) suggested and depicted how half a dozen men and women strip searched an unwilling, pleading, crying, young American woman.
The offence apparently related to a car driver's license that she had which belonged to another member of her family. In this case she was charged with "disorderly conducts and resisting arrest" said one of the cops in the case, which related to the Stark County Jail.
The woman's husband was also interviewed on the video and he seemed helpless and angry, and mentioned the facts in the case. But the stress in the video was on the strip search, the woman's agony, and the constant shrieking calls for help It was "like rape without penetration" said one of the people in the short video. What the US video was meant to do was to present a contrast to the swat video that was shown on the Pakistani channels. Without doubt Pakistani TV channels are moving from one level of freedom to another.
ZAB'S ADC RECALLS: Khalid Saeed Haroon, a former ADC to the late Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), who stayed with him for over four years was recollecting his memories of the personal and professional dimensions of the prime minister he served not just with steadfast loyalty but also with an obvious sense of deep admiration and respect.
It came through in his interview, in Jawab Deh (Geo News) and Iftikhar Ahmed handled the interview with the sensitivity that it called for. There were numerous small details mentioned in the conversation, all of which brought out ZAB's personality. For those familiar with him it was a walk down memory lane, and for those of the younger viewers, it would also mirror the ways in which Pakistan has been governed. It was also a lesson in Pakistan's turbulent history.
The conversation began with the selection of Khalid Saeed Haroon as the ADC from the Pakistan Air Force from the names that were sent to the prime minister for his selection ZAB had asked for an ADC who must be a bachelor and a teetotaler. He recalled that it was the late Shahnawaz Bhutto who had revealed to him that the family of the prime minister had together decided on his final selection, with Begum Nusrat Bhutto voting against selection. However, she was very cordial, courteous and friendly subsequently once the appointment was made, he said.
It was a conversation that showed how his ADC viewed a prime minister, but it was also an insight into the man that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was. For instance, it was disclosed that he would fast regularly, and did so once against the medical advice of his physician, Brigadier Mohiuddin. And that he also offered his prayers, quite regularly.
Once when Khalid Saeed said to the prime minister that this side of his personality was unknown to the people, he (ZAB) responded by saying that this was "between me and my Allah". Khalid Saeed said that in the four and a half years that he worked for Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto he never once raised his voice, but had said to him that were he to do so it would reflect the pressure of work that he had.
On the subject of his learning Urdu from Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, it was disclosed that ZAB paid Rs 10 per month, and that Pirzada had suggested that this amount be raised to Rs 20! There was a time when Prime Minister was requested to wear an army uniform for a prestigious ceremony of the Armored Corps and that Major General Imtiaz was handling this assignment.
All necessary arrangements were made, and the last stage Khalid Saeed was called to the Prime Minister's bedroom, where Begum Nusrat Bhutto was also present. The Prime Minister asked the ADC whether he should wear the army uniform, and he replied in the negative.
The Prime Minister looked at Begum Bhutto and remarked that even he believed that the army uniform should not be worn-- as it would not be well received by the Pakistani people. So to the disappointment of the hosts, including Major General Imtiaz, he appeared wearing a suit. Khalid Saeed didn't reveal at that time the role that he had played in his incident.
The conversation also had detailed observations and information pertaining to the army take-over in July 1977 and how, according to Khalid Saeed, the Prime Minister was for a long time absolutely sure that the army chief that he had appointed (General M. Ziaul Haq) would be unquestionably loyal to him.
But there came to time when in Murree, after the army take over ZAB said to Khalid Saeed, Abid Rathore (the Navy's ADC) and Dr Naseer Shaikh that "these general will not let me live". The prime minister felt that the Generals would fear for their own life were he to return to power.
And were he to assure them that he wouldn't, said Khalid to him. Would they believe me, responded the former prime minister. It was yet another TV interview that serve as an education on how the rulers of this country live and work. Only a glimpse, but there was a time when even this was not available.
TV CHANNELS IN SWAT: And with the situation in Swat changing swiftly and the situation returning to normal after the promulgation of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation there are media reports indicating that cable TV has been restored on a limited, selective basis. Cable operators have been directed to telecast news and current affairs channels, and also Islamic channels like Peace TV, QTV and those beamed being telecast by Saudi Arabia.
MEDICAL THEMES: One does wonder at times whether our TV channels which have such an abiding, even growing interest in promoting food and kitchens, which of course is welcome, does not demonstrate the amount of interest needed in having programmes that relate to people's health. To medicine and towards making people realise that prevention is better than cure for instance. Indeed there is a wealth of subjects and dimensions related to health/medical issues that face Pakistani society.
One thought about this while watching a very informative and well produced programme on the subject of Parkinson's Disease (PD) on News One on Sunday last. It was possibly a repeat telecast, and was especially produced for World Parkinson's day that was held last week.
The host for the discussion was a young Dr Misbah Zahid and the others on the panel were specialists like Dr Nadir Ali Syed, and Dr Haidar Zaidi and representing the Parkinson's society were Haroon Rashid and Asma. It was very useful to hear them all talk, and what was obvious was that both patients and their families crowd their programmes like seminars.
People are thirsty for information, said Haroon Rashid, who despite his illness reflected visible confidence and optimism. Needless to say that there was plenty of medical advice and general information which even those not suffering from PD found beneficial.
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