TV THOUGHTS: A warning to the media - whither freedom? Internally displaced persons, animal rights

And the media in the country have been asked to mend their ways by the Taliban or the militants, as some media refer to them. In this very description, there could be a difference of opinion, and even trouble, perhaps.
On Tuesday afternoon (April 28) came the news on Aaj News and some other channels that the Taliban have warned the media in Pakistan of dire consequences if the media does not desist from portraying a "negative image or picture of them. It could also lead to a trial of the media or media men, in the newly established Qazi courts."
Agencies have reported, and TV channels have carried the story which said that pamphlets have been sent to newspaper offices as well as TV channels, and asked them to review their role and avoid "an anti Taliban agenda". The pamphlet, an image of which was shown on the TV channel was supposed to have been signed by the "commander of the Fidayeen section of the Tehrik-e-Taliban". The pamphlet accused the media of following a new trend over the past week which 'showed that everybody is following a pro western policy or for greed'.
The Taliban pamphlet stressed that "it is the duty of the media to give space and time to statements which have a positive impact on society".
It is very pertinent to refer here to the news report published on the front page of this daily on 29th April (Wednesday) which said that Muslim Khan, the spokesman for the Swat chapter of Taliban told the Business Recorder that "We have not threatened the media,, but have asked them to show responsibility and avoid the campaign of maligning the Taliban "or else the matter would be referred to the Shariat court."
Muslim Khan firmly denied that the media had been threatened but went on to say that "pro-West media is either influenced by handouts or is under terrible pressure of Western powers". He once again stressed that the Taliban had no hidden agenda and that they wanted to impose the Shariat law in Malakand. He added that the Taliban had no grudge against Pakistan and sought an Islamic system of justice and that it was a long standing demand of the people of Malakand.
Of course it is inevitable that this warning has brought forth some immediate responses and one of which was that former Federal Information Sherry Rehman and a distinguished journalist in her own right was commenting on this on Aaj News on Tuesday evening. And in Capital Talk (Geo) later that night in a panel discussion on the emerging situation in Lower Dir, Buner, and Swat, (to mention some names) anchor Hamid Mir also took specific note of the Taliban threat that had come in earlier.
The participants were Senator Allama Sajid Mir, Federal Minister Najmuddin Khan and Zahid Khan, Central Information Secretary of the Awami National Party. It was yet another discussion which reflected the gravity of the situation arising of the military operation (ground and air) that had been launched that very day, earlier on.
The discussion came to an end with Hamid Mir saying that the media would not succumb to any threat of the Taliban and that it had never accepted the threats that had come from the previous government (of former President and military dictator Musharraf). He also said very categorically that Pakistan would also not buckle under the pressure that the American government was consistently increasing.
It is pertinent to mention here a point that was stressed in this discussion. It raised the question of why the Nizam-e-Adl that has been signed, and supported by the country's National Assembly is being resisted by the United States government, and apparently being made to fail by certain lobbies here. Some TV discussions have been giving expression to the thought that the United States is pursuing anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan policies, the aim of which is to destabilize this country. The long term (or short term) goal is to establish the perception that Pakistan is an ungovernable and unstable country.
In the context of the Taliban threat there are reports, which indicate that TV channels and newspaper offices have further heightened their security measures in and around their premises. The psychological impact of this stressful environment is perceptible.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has promptly and understandably expressed its concern at the alleged threat to the media by "the militant group". It said that it was regrettable that "warning letters and displaying warnings in Swat by the Taliban have been sent and this tantamount to the intimidation of the media and media personnel."
The PFUJ has further said that if this "tendency was allowed to develop, all non state actors would start telling the media to 'project their particular point of view'. How would the media then, play its professional role, as envisaged in the country's constitution? Asked the PFUJ.
Indeed there is much to contemplate here that with the apparent polarization and divide that is surfacing in this society, how would media and media professionals function in the larger interest of society alone?
The human side:
One of the saddest and heart rending aspects of the drone attacks, the militants activities, and the military operations that take place is the fact of a growing number of internally displaced persons, images and stories of which have been appearing regularly on TV channels. And with there be no positive signs of a permanent solution whether it be Swat or Balochistan, the fears are that TV channels will be telecasting more on this suffering of people. People running for their lives, and losing all their life's belongings as they do so. And let us remember that these people are Pakistani men, women and children. Young and old, educated and uneducated, from various income groups.
This was the message came through a film report that was telecast by Royal News on Tuesday night, and briefly by Express News on Wednesday afternoon.
The Royal news report was also a focus on the welfare work that was being done by the Al Khidmat Foundation in some places like Bajaur, Darra Adam Khel, Kurram agency and so on, and it was said that the number of displaced persons so far was between seven to nine lakhs. Karachi former Nazim Naematullah Khan was shown in the affected area, and a spokesman, Dr Iqbal Khalil, detailed the depth of the devastation and the deprivation that the families in those areas had been subjected to. Needless to say this was a worrying report for TV viewers, who now see varying news and current affairs telecasts that bring anxiety alone, to say the least.
Dhoom TV, and Karachi:
On Tuesday night, it was through the Dhoom TV that a fairly comprehensive picture of the unrest in Karachi's Lyari and Korangi areas was telecast. For residents in Karachi it was precious information, from which they could look at the days ahead. And then, as I write this column on Wednesday around midnight, there are deeply disturbing reports coming from several channels of the unrest in many parts of the Sindh capital. About thirty people are believed to have been killed so far. The city is in torment again.
What kind of a May awaits the city, especially with the 12 May strike call? This is with reference to the 12 May 2007 bloodshed in the city.
Cruelty to animals:
I have been wanting to write on the theme of animal rights in Pakistani society which is a subject that does warrant far greater attention than what it is currently receiving from various Pakistani channels. If anything it seems that the focus is merely accidental or simply ceremonial. With the repeated violence, killing and bloodshed that remains such an integral part of our lives today, and therefore on TV channels, it is all the more justification to remember that there are animals in our midst, in our daily lives.
Whether they be pets, or whether they be the scorned stray dogs and cats, or whether they be the poor donkeys, horses and camels, that are made to carry burden beyond their capacities, by insensitive commercialized owners, animals seem to be getting a terrible beating at the hands of society. Perhaps the stress and tension of our lives today would provide a good television producer to profile the attitude, and enable the camera to reveal our collective attitudes to animals. Our indifference, and our downright cruelty to theme, in so many ways, is something that does not receive the priority that it should.
It was on Tuesday morning in Aaj Subh when a sensitive citizen phoned in to tell the three anchors that he was forever dismayed at the way animals, like donkeys and camels were being ill treated by their owners.
I thought that that this would lead to at least several minutes of a discussion of the need for promoting love and affection or at least some caring for animals in our lives. I think it was Nusrat Haris who remarked that Fatima Adarsh has been very eloquent on the subject of prevention of cruelty to animals. Of course there are some very caring in individuals around us, who care for crows, and eagles and birds, and cats and dogs but they are in a minority.
It was several weeks ago that I saw on the Samaa TV a short film report that was telecast on the subject of how indiscriminate and heartless are the campaigns of the City District Government when it comes to their efforts to reduce the number of stray dogs.
One angry housewife was bitterly complaining on the TV channel that the City government had killed her pet dog with the poison that they were using to carry on with their campaign. She lashed out at the authorities, contending that this form of killing stray dogs was cruel and that it had been discontinued the world over. It was a report that was high in emotional value.
Of course there has been the occasional morning talk show in which that buoyant anchor Marina Khan, whose abiding love of cats and dogs is well known, has had a show or two with veterinary surgeons like Abrar Pirzada on this subject. But as viewer I would expect some of our channels to regularly examine our disappointing societal stance towards animals.
Even animals in the large Karachi Zoological gardens and the Safari park are often focused upon in the print media, more for a want of resources and a visible unkindness of even educated visitors than anything else. I must emphasize that this is a rich complex theme for television channels, whose ignorance of this is disappointing. Surely in our understandable pursuit of breaking news stories, there is the smaller picture that does matter, in human and animals terms, both.
Sultana's success story:
Even for those who have known the creative, and enterprising Sultana Siddiqui since the days she joined the Pakistan Television, Karachi centre in the mid seventies, may have been pleasantly surprised at her awards and achievements in the last 35 years. And these relate not only to the professional domain where she is the President of the Hum Television network, and which continues to grow, but also to the impressive, and inspiring manner in which she has brought her immediate family into the folds of the larger family that the work place is for her.
She quietly, modestly raveled as she talked of her life in Success Stories last week (Aaj News) and it emerged that Duraid Siddiqui, one of her three sons, and two of her daughters in law, were working with her in the Television world. Moomal works in Hum TV and Momina Duraid manages Moomal productions which is a sister concern of Hum TV and a successful production house. Some of Sultana Siddiqui's family members who were interviewed for this programme spoke with warmth, affection and respect for her. As did her professional colleagues.
Sultana Siddiqui spoke with confidence as he recollected the days when she worked for the PTV focusing on the future that she has in mind. What came through effectively was that she is a woman, not be deterred by distractions and the vicissitudes that life brings as it unfolds. Besides Hum TV, she heads Masala TV, Style 360 and Oye and when she talks of them she does so with effortlessness that reflects the mileage that he has reached in life's journey.
In this series there have been some very interesting and profound interviews and the one on Mussarat Misbah was also very absorbing. Amazing people around us, and so often we do not know.
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