Pakistan's Sacred Cow

The Pakistani Media is considered by many to be the fourth pillar of the state but has it been successful in dispensing its duties responsibly? Has the media been able to transform the Pakistani society for the better? Has it been able to promote the idea of a pluralistic and democratic Pakistan?

Well the answers to those questions are not as simple as they seem. The Pakistani media is largely free, as free as corporate entities can be that is. The promise that the ‘free’ and ‘fair’ media showed, which was augmented by its role in the Lawyers movement, gave rise to a hope of a new Pakistan, a better Pakistan, with the ‘Free’ media leading the charge, has now been replaced with cynicism. The media in a way started following the Dominant-Ideology model, placing corporate interests in front of media ethics and the greater good. Sensationalism replaced cold hard facts and the agent for change became the agent of propaganda.

One of the most unforgivable sins that the media is guilty of is of ‘mainstreaming hate’. Everyday television shows give prime time slots to hate spewing Mullahs who don’t think twice before passing out fatwas against Ahmedis, Ismailis and other marginalized sections of the society. In giving ‘hate speech’ airtime the media is in a way legitimizing hate. Media ethics are an unknown concept in the land of the Pure and the media regulatory body Pemra is too impotent to assert its authority, much like the present government.

One of the most troubling things about the Pakistani media is its belief that it is above public accountability. That it has an unlimited license to tarnish anybody’s reputation based of just speculation. Media trials are commonplace and ‘Due process of law’ and ‘innocent until proven guilty’ are just fancy phrases that mean nothing to our divine media. The nexus between the Iftikhar Chaudry judiciary and Geo news based on mutual interests, exposed another kink in the media’s armor.

The media has the greatest power on earth, the power to influence and change hearts and minds. Pakistan needs this power now, more then ever, if it is to ever get out of these troubled times.