Print and Electronic MediaâVictim of unnecessary and unjustifiable criticism

            I do not know from where I should start the pitiable condition of Journalism. Actually, I do not know the history of Journalism or the names of those who have given sacrifices for the freedom of speech and expression but it is a fact that the present freedom of speech to everyone is the result of countless brave and farsighted persons who trampled every hurdle and achieved the present position. Today, some critics of Media consider its present role as a rule of Media but they forget that without exposing those who need to be exposed, the concept of good governance cannot be accomplished. Some people have no courage to see their faces in the mirror of Media and that is why either in one way or in another try to tame it. I solute to all those, who are dead and those who are living for their meritorious service, which they have done to nation in shape of achieving this independence for the Media. Many were kidnapped, many were shot dead, many were crippled, many were unemployed, many were pressurised to follow the dictates of influential, many were given offers (the sequence is still continuous) but the journey was kept by the spirited men of Media and the young generation is now enjoying the fruits of the labour of their elders. The future of young men and women is bright subject to the condition that if they followed their predecessors in this struggle and did not become addicted to shortcuts.

            Once again involuntarily I make the mention of General Musharraf that being a Military dictator but he did not use the brute force against Media in that way in which General Zia had used. Instead, General Musharraf allowed the so may TV Channels which, according to the critics, has destroyed its morality. It is astonishing that when the Media was weak, no one talked about its any Code of Conduct but now when it has got power to stand on its own feet, everyone is trying to entangle it in the web of laws for their own sake. It is similar to the case that when a person is poor, no income tax officer visits him to find out his living condition but when that person become rich then every income tax officer becomes his guest.

            Till the year 2000, there was no this mushroom of TV Channels but the half Military Government of Musharraf gave licences to so many people to open new Channels of TV along with PTV. It was easy for every Government to control the PTV and compel it to show the programmes of their choices and appoint the people of their choice but now when the doors of PTV are closed for someone, many doors of many TV Channels are opened for him. Now the Media is not at the mercy of Rulers but the Rulers are destitute to the Media in shape of exposing or not exposing their corruption. Even the Supreme Court takes suo motu actions on the coverage of the Media which reveals that the trust of Judiciary has increased if the trust of Politicians has decreased.

            If it is unethical to show the scattered parts of dead bodies of victims of terrorism it is equally unethical to close eyes on the mass level of corruption which has pervaded every sphere of our society. If the Politicians and bureaucrats are patriots, the men of Media are equally sons of this land and cannot be expected to harm the national interests. Black sheep are present everywhere and Media is no exception but it cannot be said that all Media men are against either the Government or democracy in this Country. Media men cannot remain silent and calm on the injustices rendered by the people of power. When the people are starving due to shortage of wheat, how Media can remain ignorant to it and shun showing the long lines of people in front of distribution points. The calamity of shortage of wheat, sugar etc is the result of the management of those who handle these things. Now if Media or a Court takes action on it, what harm Media do to national interest.

            Almost all the political parties were aware of the liberty of Media that is why they did not take any action on the past and left the task to a Military Dictator. They merely inserted the provisions of freedom of speech etc but never acted with that spirit with which the Military Dictator took the action. The Media men are aware of this fact that is why always remain active to any such action of the Democratic Governments which may curtail their liberty. For example, NRO is a reality, the persons who got benefits of this Ordinance is also a reality. Now what harm they do if they call these persons as beneficiaries of NRO. All the political parties believe in eradication of corruption but they wish to protect some of their selected men for which they try find out ways and means. The big folly of Musharraf was this NRO, whatever may say the eulogizers of this Ordinance.

            If a political party wishes to remain clean and without any tinge of corruption, it should voluntarily hand over the cases of their those party men who got benefit from NRO in order to show the people of this Country that an accused person should get certificate of his innocence from the Court in shape of its verdict.

            Media men should be more investigative and more uncompromising on issues of National Interests. They should report news as if they are lodging FIRs in a Police Station because if the concerned reporter is asked to prove the substance of the news, he should be equipped with all the evidence of the news. The idea of self-accountability is not bad because it is necessary for the confirmation of trust and confidence of the people because the people would then select them for more responsible roles in the future.

            The tussle between the politicians and media men is due to the point of view. The majority of the politicians or the heads of political parties are not ordinary men but are feudal landlords, Nawabs, Khans, Sardars etc. They do not tolerate that their any action should be criticised by men of more knowledge or talent. Once I heard a political leader of a political party on PTV that he treated differently his persons of the tribe and his voters. The behaviour with tribe-man is harsh while with voters he becomes lenient. It means that simultaneously he wields to powersâone of tribal and other of governmental. Fancy how strong would be such a person in his area? Media comes to the rescue of the common person of such area when the big one becomes against him.

            The power of Media is a reality like a sum of shining day. Those who have no illegality in their character should not afraid of Media. The face of everyone should be clean before he looks his face in the mirror of Media. Media is like an Education Institution where people get knowledge of their day to day affairs. The strong relationship of Media with Judiciary can give the nation a new hope of living with peace and in corruption free society.

Manzoor Ahmad Yousafzai