I begin with the Lal Masjid theme, knowing well that it is a changing, developing story as I write this column on a Wednesday evening. Not merely changing, as it perhaps moves towards its finale, but also a sad, worrying frontier of a troubled Pakistan. And in terms of media it has been the principal theme on the private TV channels.
Not live in visual terms, but almost as good as that. But it has been for almost 36 hours (at the time of my writing this) a development on the national scene, that makes citizens wonder what lies next.
Not just in terms of this particular Lal Masjid and Syeda Jamia Hafsa theme, but as regards the future. What will be the impact of this on the society, on the politics and sociology of the country in the days ahead? What will be the impact on the media, whose role in national affairs is growing, primarily due to the electronic media. Precisely a half a dozen channels, whose names are well known.
Of course there is competition between the channels - which is welcome and healthy despite what voices and whispers say about the growing role of the media in Pakistani society. It is truly time that the people of Pakistan know the truth, within the domains of responsible journalism. It is time that come Pakistani channels, and Pakistani journalists, rather than foreign media which has been the practice in the past.
The outcome of the operation around and at the Lal Masjid in the Federal Capital has been depicted in very bold and vivid ways, and needless to say that depending on viewer's choices, TV channels like Aryone World, Aaj TV, Geo and Indus have been watched, to some extent even TV One, especially its current affairs programmes.
Let me confess that on Tuesday night when most of us thought that the operation would begin at the Lal Masjid, I slept late watching TV (1 am), and realised only the next morning (around 5am) that the TV was still on. I was that tired, but also that involved in what was happening.
This experience on our media is amongst the most unique from what I can recall right now. What more can I say at this stage? But it is scary and dangerous what is happening. Where does Pakistani society go from here? Is question that is bound to trouble us hence forth?
RUSHDI - ONLY REGRET:
Despite a poorly compered panel discussion in Sirat'e-Mustaqeemon (TV One) on the subject of Salman Rushdi on 29th June it was an absorbing programme. The participants comprised Justice (Retd) Shafi Mohammadi, Mufti Usman, and Rao Khalid. This was the sort of panel discussion which reflected the grim scene, prevailing in Pakistan on many fronts.
One of the points that was stressed was that in the knighthood that has been conferred on Salman Rushdi the point to note was that Pakistan's spokesperson Tasneem Aslam had not condemned the British government for it. Instead it had only regretted what had been done. It was argued that the British decision was an act of provocation for the Muslim world, and that the West wanted the Islamic countries to react violently to it.
Another point that was underlined was that the West was favouring those individuals and leaders and lobbyists who were speaking out against the Muslim world or even expressing modern and liberal interpretations of Islamic principles. Such individuals would also get political asylum in the United States and in the United Kingdom, it was stated.
Mufti Usman was asked with reference to the Lal Masjid context whether Islam can be implemented with force, and he answered in the affirmative, adding that this was possible when the State was not doing this job. He said that force cannot be used to make a person a Muslim, but if a person has accepted Islam then he is bound to follow its principles and practise it. He philosophised by saying later that Man seeks order which is consonance with the scheme of the Almighty.
It needs to be noted that it was several days before the Lal Masjid operation that this panel discussion was telecast. And the participants were indicating that there would be more such cases, from the look of things in the country. But it was also stated by one of the participants that the West wants a government in Pakistan which will protect Western values and interests, and that does not view positively the coming closer of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, which have enormous potential, if and when they come closer for the greater good of their peoples.
NAZIM ONLINE:
I would like to believe that the programmes that interview City Nazims, country wide, about the successes and failures of their respective areas, and where they are asked direct questions in the light of public complaints and perceptions are really needed.
With time, presumably there will be more of them - as there is a growing awareness of the local bodies' network, their strengths and their weaknesses.
I have watched some of these interviews of City Nazims in the programme Nazim Online (Aaj Tv) or another one called Nazim Hazir Ho (Geo). Other channels have these programmes under different names, wherein the focus is on the local bodies and how people are battling various day to day frustrations. Sometimes the tone and content of the interviews is candid and bold, and citizens also sound very angry.
In the Nazim OnLine interview the guest this week was the City Nazim, Karachi's Syed Mustafa Kemal. He has quite understandably been on the channels, and in the print media of late. Karachi has been hit by storm and rain and the havoc and devastation are well known. I don't need to repeat them here.
Let me also bring in here a live interview that he was doing on the Aryone World channel. One morning in the breakfast show with Dr Shaista Vahidy. Syed Mustafa Kemal was very categorical and insistent when he said that most media people, and the citizens as well, were not keeping uppermost in mind that the Sindh capital was not just affected by monsoon rain, but instead there was an unforeseen and unpredictable storm that had caused so much loss of life and property.
This was on the 23rd of June, and a major factor behind the destruction that came was because of the strong winds accompanying the storm and the rain. Karachi's Nazim was underlining the deeper significance of this point - and even appeared slightly annoyed that people didn't seem to appreciate this fact, and that people were being critical of the performance of the City District Government Karachi without taking ground reality into account.
The City Nazim's interview in the Nazim Online programme was of interest to Karachiites in particular. He was asked many questions about the ongoing and completed mega development projects to which he gave detailed replies, confidently and without mincing words about where the credit should go. The young interviewer asked him about the contribution of the City Nazim Naematullah Khan, advocate, and Syed Mustafa Kemal expressed his views candidly.
He said forcefully that the last Nazim had really not done much, and that in particular he did almost nothing on the subject of sewerage lines, which are integral to the quality of life citizens would need in a metropolitan city like Karachi.
Syed Mustafa Kemal said that Naematullah Khan had put up nameplates of projects even where in effect there was no work initiated and that he (Kemal) had retained those nameplates. And he had done projects, in some instances, right next to those very nameplates that the former Nazim had put up at numerous places in the city.
He was also asked a familiar (read stereotyped) question about why the city government had initiated so many mega projects in Karachi at the same time, as a result of which major roads had been dug up simultaneously. This was explained by the Nazim, and indeed emphasised that the completion time of major projects like underpasses, and bridges had come down during his tenure, as compared to the past. And Syed Mustafa Kemal also took a round of the city with the interviewer, to illustrate with examples what he had been saying earlier.
AMEEN SAYANI MEMORY LANE: There is not the slightest doubt that the tribute to the legendary broadcaster Ameen Sayani, spread over two parts by Hum TV was welcome, and must have delighted TV viewers. The programme was shown on two Saturdays, which reflects not merely the duration of the original recording held at the Arts Council auditorium, but also the lifetime that Ameen Sayani has been flourishing.
I would like to believe that some TV viewers must have been surprised at the fact of the tribute was split. But that was unavoidable. I was however surprised at the selection of the compere for the programme. She worked out of a script that almost didn't contribute to the mood of the programme. In fact the overall impact that she had was minimal, which was sad keeping in mind the pivotal role that she had to play in a programme that will be remembered for long.
The programme was organised by the HUM TV in association with the talented Amateur Melodies Group whose backbone is the well known Sultan Arshad and both parts afforded TV viewers (particularly of the Binaca Geet Mala days) an unforgettable opportunity to hear all those popular songs from the early fifties onwards to the late sixties almost. The canvass from which the songs were to be selected was obviously huge, and any selection done would have something lacking. That needs to be kept in mind. But presumably the selections were those of Ameen Sayani.
The first part of this tribute to Ameen Sayani was telecast on 23rd June and that was the day when Karachi was struck by a unprecedented storm, wind and rain combination - which meant that atleast half of Karachi was minus electricity also. That must have deprived TV viewers in a sizeable majority of a must see programme. I was fortunate to have had electricity available in the slot when this tribute was telecast. But seriously the mood of the city was far from being conducive to music.
Which brings one to the point of a programme being relevant to the mood of society and the environment. But perhaps this is a hard to meet criteria. Life and programmes must go on. Though one does wish that such a programme as this one (or many others, like the unforgettables on the G channel).
I had thought I would write about this Ameen Sayani programme last week. But some deadlines are elusive, it seems. Anyway, given the general context of uncertainty ranging from the political mood to power failures, I am fortunate I was able to see both parts of the tribute. That I fought a battle against tiredness and sleep as I watched this sentimental musical journey, (which is what happens at times even with other programmes) and overcame it, needs to be put on record. Given my insatiable fondness for the TV as a medium, and my curiosity at the diversity of channels that our world has. I am forever channel surfing. The restlessness of one's nature does get reflected in many places, after all.
I have taken this occasion to reflect on TV related thoughts, as I believe that TV viewers generally find themselves virtually seized by a variety of diversionary themes, and sub themes as they watch TV, which is seeking to unfold the deeper, wider dimensions and the philosophical nuances and complexities of life.
Returning to the Ameen Sayani tribute it was welcome to see so many new amateur voices of male and female singers who did an excellent job as they rendered the favourites from the past. Special mention must be made of the camera eye that faithfully captured the small gestures like the tapping of fingers or the nostalgic look of middle aged and mature faces of men and women who were enjoying the music from the past.
Needless to say that it was all Indian film music, and there were names like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle, Talat Mahmood, Mukesh and so on that were presented on a lovely platter. It's sentimental programmes like these and many others, I must underline, that make one feel that life's long journey has been rewarding.
For many of the distinguished participants who came on the stage like actor Nadeem, Hum TV President Sultana Siddiqui, or Sultan Arshad, it was a moment to remember that would come and time and place when they would be sharing the same platform as the irrepressible Ameen Sayani. Nadeem gave expression to this thought with his characteristic soft spoken humility.