The post 9 March 2007 struggle has created an order that needs a focused media attention to groom the nation to full democracy that is practised in the developed world. The very fact that the lawyers' movement has survived more than one year convinces me that the movement is for real and can be compared to any middle class soft revolutions in history.
Their unity has given birth to a strong awareness in the civil society to fight for and seek their rights. This will strengthen and grow if the media (print and electronic) play their rightful role in nation building. We, as a nation, are still suffering under the yoke of personalised political parties. Our media is totally focused on such personalities whatever their worth. The media must change direction in a manner that any images it shows must be towards nation building.
Let us begin with the judges who are in media attention these days. I would like to ask Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry that where were all these judges and their conscience when former Justice Sajjad was struggling for the independence of judiciary against the two governments of Ms Bhutto and Mian Sahib.
They were all silent till they departed. Mr Iftikhar's conscience only came into play when he was challenged in person. No one has asked him so far that how he plans to bring about the independence of judiciary. Has he made any preparation?
He has been in captivity for more than six months, did he use this time in preparing reforms that will contribute to the independence of judiciary. I am sure he will have no answer. Unfortunate for Pakistanis that no leader after Mr Liaquat Ali Khan ever made any preparation to run the country before assuming power.
The same is the case of our current PM. Like so many who came before him, he too will depend on our non-specialised bureaucracy whose quality of governance can be easily measured from the state we are in today since independence. Therefore it has become even more important that the media play its role in bringing awareness in the awakened civil society to put themselves together and select/elect their own leaders.
I have seen this happening for the first time in 2008 elections. A seat in NWFP belonged to a family who has been winning it since years. The family took the win for granted and never did anything for the people. This time around the people got together and nominated their own candidate to contest independently and made sure he wins. For the first time in my village NA-05 and PF-12, all contesting candidates were invited to a debate by the village community to highlight their development plan.
The best has been elected. Media is the only source that can put the entire community together nation-wide. The restoration of the judges has become symbolic. Therefore a great pressure should be brought on the committee that will make their recommendation before May 12. They should be told that they should keep their egos and loyalties aside and help save the nascent democracy.