TV THOUGHTS: Warring for more provinces; Dr Israr Ahmed remembered: 2009 Swat Video on flogging remains controversial

Dr Israr Ahmed, 78, one of our leading Islamic scholars, whose lifelong uncompromising struggle for not only "reviving a Quran-centered Islamic philosophy and world-view, but also reforming society in a practical way, with the ultimate objective of establishing a true Islamic state or the system of Khilafah" passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, 14th April (28th Rabi us Sani) in Lahore at his residence. Innah Lil La Hey Wa Innah Ilaihe Rajeon.
TV channels reported his sudden death in news bulletins before noon, and thereafter, they focused on the details provided by his family members of how he became ill that morning, and declined to be taken to hospital. He had been fighting his cardiac problems and his back-related pain that had been troubling him of late.
He has left behind four sons and five daughters - all of whom have been with him in the Tanzeem-e-Islami (1975) and the Anjuman-e-Khuddamul Quran (1972) and the Quran Academy, all of which he founded at different stages of his life. Even his sons-in-laws and daughters-in-laws are stated to be associated with his Islamic movements.
TV channels focused on the details of his tireless struggle for focusing on the message of the Holy Quran, and his personality, as well as the voluminous work that he has left behind - the Aaj News appropriately telecast one of his recent interviews around the time that he was to be laid to rest in Lahore.
The funeral prayers, which were attended by an exceptionally large number of people, including leading scholars, ulema, and his followers, were telecast live by Geo, Aaj News, Duniya, among others. Others telecast footage of the Namaz-e-Janaza later on.
The Newsone telecast a detailed programme on Dr Israr Ahmed, and the multiple dimensions there were to him and his work, in "Gehri Nazar", a current affairs show that is hosted regularly by Sajjad Meer. The participants in the Lahore-based programme included Hafiz Mohammed Idrees, senior journalist Mujibur Rehman Shami, Afzal Rehan, a columnist, while a former Amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed participated via the telephone.
There were several questions from viewers in the live programme, and one lady suggested that TV channels should telecast his previous recordings, which had lasting value. One may mention here that he has been a familiar scholar on various TV channels, including Peace TV also. Born in 1932, Dr Israr Ahmed graduated in medicine from the King Edward medical college, Lahore in 1954 and later, also received his Masters degree in Islamic Studies from the Karachi University in 1965.
He practised medicine until 1971 - but then gave it up to devote himself full time to spreading the message of the Holy Quran - and the revival of Islam. The advent of television and especially private channels, in the last decade, brought him into more contact (as well as more dissent also?) with his viewers. He spoke passionately, authoritatively, intensely, even angrily at times, argumentatively and analytically - and quoted Allama Mohammed Iqbal extensively and forcefully, to spread the message of the Quran.
The speakers on Wednesday night referred to the huge turnout at the funeral in Lahore, expressed their views on the determination and devotion with which he had worked through the four decades , and that despite the fact that he had parted ways with the Jamaat-i-Islami and the Islami Jamiat-e-Tulaba, on principle, he had maintained a cordial and meaningful relationship with them. All the participants had known Dr Israr Ahmed personally and gave valuable insight into his personality, and his work. The timing of this current affairs show was prompt, so befitting - and one hopes that a sustained focus on his scholarly work will follow in the days ahead.
Eventually, more provinces? Is Pakistan, now entering into a phase where there is going to be pronounced struggle, demand, and commotion, to say the least for more provinces - with voices being heard that the number of provinces in South Asia has grown with time will smaller provinces make this country governable. And will it mean that the problems of the people have failed to be addressed comprehensively, (if at all fairly) given the present four provinces that exist.
Throughout the week there has been focus on the opposition to the Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa that is to be the new name of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). And also the celebration that has taken place in the NWFP and elsewhere, including Karachi, at the new name.
In all this, atleast nine people have died, over a hundred have been seriously injured, property damaged, in Abbotabad, Haripur and Mansehra, as the Hazarawalas have raised their angry, eloquent demand for the renaming of the NWFP as "Hazara-Pakhtoonkhwa". That is not all, as there are political voices contending that what is now needed is a Hazara province.
The situation, that has been restless, and violent in the last fortnight so far, may subside for now. But what about the long run in which ethnic harmony that has suffered, or got fragmented, may take new shapes and twists and turns? What if there are demands for a Saraiki province? What if there are such demands for more provinces - especially in Sindh?
In various TV talk shows, there have been strong advocates of more provinces to make Pakistan governable - and all these arguments for more provinces may create public opinion, conducive to the changes that are likely to be sought. The manner in which the federal government has managed the country and the symbols and signs that come out of Islamabad "the beautiful", have only contributed towards making politics ugly in the country. Perhaps, it is time, that the expression "Islamabad the beautiful" be suspended for the foreseeable future. It only makes it obvious - how helpless the people at the grassroots are.
The TV images of police handling ordinary people, like students, that viewers have been seen from the street protests in Haripur, Mansehra, and Abbotabad (all these were peaceful and scenic areas) have possibly made viewers wonder about the way the country's civil and military rulers have been unable to understand the perceptions of the people - to read their hearts and minds, even when they sit in the Parliament.
Islamic programmes: That there are regular Islamic programmes on PTV and the private TV channels, as a matter of routine, is something that needs to be stated. On special occasions, like Ramazan or Rabiul Awwal, Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi and Moharram, the emphasis is visibly enhanced and the production values of the special programmes rise to still more impressive levels.
Occasions like Shab-e-Barat or Shab-e-Meraj and others also enable TV viewers to watch informative and inspiring programmes, some of which are unforgettable for the impact they create on family audiences in particular. It is relevant to mention here the presence of channels like Peace TV in English and Urdu, as well QTV, which is a part of the ARY network. These channels have a faithful following among TV viewers, and the educational and motivational dimensions of their programmes are strong, and impressive, generally speaking.
One may also mention here the fact that PTV and private TV channels also take due notice of religious occasions of minorities, like Christians, Hindus, Parsis, etc and these too are watched with keen interest - and the ambience of worship is created, which of course evokes appreciation from the minorities.
The Swat video I am under the impression that Aalim On Line (Geo News), which is presented with great feelings by the persuasive Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain, has been focusing on themes that are directly or indirectly related to current affairs.
Instead of picking up questions and subjects that may have only academic or theoretical value, he has been concentrating on real-life issues, that relate to Pakistan, and the many problems, challenges and conflicts that this society is currently facing That certainly raises the value of the programmes that he does, as viewers are able to get answers to real-life issues, and also get to know the considered views of leading Islamic scholars, who are there to give opinions and advice.
This week, the subject that was thoroughly explored was that of the controversial (even slanderous) video produced by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) whose name remains in the background. It is said that it was also foreign funded. This was a video about the flogging of a young Muslim woman (in Swat) on alleged charges of " adultery" that was shown sometime early last year on Pakistani TV channels, as well as abroad, and also on alternate media in this country.
This video, argued Dr Amir Liaquat in his programme, has turned out to be fake - and it was made by the NGO to malign Islam, and give Pakistan a bad name. The point of that foreign-funded NGOs, working against the interests of the basic values of Pakistani society, was also severely criticised - reflecting the debate that continues to go on about the NGOs that operate outside the financial and other necessary controls of the Pakistani government.
One central point that was underlined repeatedly in this programme was about the silence of those anchors, politicians and TV channels who had earlier spoken out to support the video - and it was asked why they were not responding to the allegations about the "flogging video" being fake. The participants in the Alim on Line were journalist Ansar Abbasi (The News), Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Mufti Munibur Rehman, Hafiz Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, and Maulana Mohammed Asad Thanvi.
There was complete unanimity of views among the panellists, and finally, an appeal was made to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, to take suo moto action, vis-a-vis the making of the "fake" video under mention, and that the truth should be made public.
While Dr Amir Liaquat said that the woman who appeared in the video was supposedly paid Rs five lakhs for it, journalist Ansar Abbasi, who appears occasionally on television talk shows, was of the view that he had doubted the genuineness of the video production even at that time. He went onto contend that it was the help and the will of Allah that he had this opinion/perception about the said video.
He regretted that there were such Pakistanis, who not only laughed at the fundamentals of Islam, but also that they were viewing and interpreting Islam as would be acceptable to the United States, and Western circles. He added that it was a matter of shame that Pakistani Muslims were laughing and rejecting the laws and the punishments laid down in Islam.
One needs to mention here that the Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik was quoted by news channels on Wednesday night, as saying that there was no proof that the said video was fake, and that he had talked to the concerned Inspector General police to investigate the matter. Geo news reported that the Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that it did not know anything about the video.
It was also reported that night that the DIG Police Malakand, Qazi Jamil, had said that investigations were continuing into the subject of the video being fake or not. And also to determine the actual facts in the case. No arrests had been made so far. Further, the DIG Kohat, Abdullah Khan, was quoted as saying that no action had been taken by him so far. Viewers were baffled by these reports and it appeared that some developments might take place in this case in the days ahead.
Geo News also did a repeat telecast of the earlier footage showing Muslim Khan of the Tehrik-e-Taliban responding to the flogging video, affirming that the incident had taken place, but disagreeing with the fact that the woman had been punished in public. This is one of those stories and developments in the country that further confuses and disturbs the ordinary citizen. It is among other things, a war of values, once again.
Some conversations It was very interesting to see the profound and the solemn looking Obaidullah Baig (of PTV's Kasauti fame) talking to the vivacious Begum Nawazish Ali in a recent Late Night Show that has does over Aaj News, He talked on and on and she spent the same time possibly wondering why the two of them weren't looking at other exciting options!
Begum Nawazish Ali has had some naughty encounters recently in the late night show, especially when she had the company of "Bobby Darling" - so revealingly covered - and the two of them had Sahir Lodhi and then Humayun Saeed for company. Sahir was completely at ease, as compared to the latter, especially with "Bobby Darling", who had apparently come from India.
Another show that provides for engaging, lively conversations (witty and naughty as well) is heard at times in No Reservations that Ayesha Alam does (Dawn News). Last week, her guests were anchors Mujahid Barelvi (CNBC Pakistan) and Sana Bucha (Geo News).
It was absorbing to hear them talk - while one has heard veteran Mujahid Barelvi often, in some detail, it was perhaps the first time Sana Bucha was talking about her ambitions and the fact that one of the things that she would to do was to be able to forgive people - which indeed reflected her large-heartedness, as she admitted to this side of her outspoken personality. Also, that she would rather work back stage than be in front of the camera.
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