Despite the serious threats of terrorist attacks especially
on 9th and 10th Muharram-ul-Haram, these days passed
peacefully except the tragic incident in Rawalpindi in which about 10 people
were killed and nearing 56 injured. Whether the violence broke out due to the alleged
misuse of the loudspeaker from the Mosque or it was someone of the procession
whose any act initiated the tension or perhaps there was a mix of both. The unpleasant
event definitely gave a very bad message to the world about the religious and
sectarian harmony in Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
However, it was a surprise to see the Pakistani media building
a wall against the on-going sectarian violence by not letting the violence
scenes on air. It became very careful while telecasting any news regarding the
incident of Rawalpindi. Though the incident took place immediately after the
Friday prayers, it took quite long to first release any news about it. This was,
perhaps, the first time especially after the “freedom” of the Pakistani media
that, despite a very hot news piece, there was neither any breaking news nor a
live coverage of a high rating incident in the country.
Not only that, even in the prime time talk shows at in the
evening, the anchorpersons were taking every possible care to talk about the
incident. They did not want to use a word or a sentence that might intensify the
already present tension in the affected areas. In this context, they were not
using the word “violence” or “clash”. Instead, they were saying” Whatever
happened…….”.More importantly, they neither took the rival parties/groups live
on their shows in order to take their stance, nor did they disclose the sectarian
affiliation of the people allegedly involved in the violence. They preferred
letting it be decided by the relevant authorities, i.e., the police and the
courts. The main purpose of all these activities was to try to put out this
fire.
Considering the previously prevailing sensitive situation in
the country, this was the ever required role from the media. Logically, when
even the business entities, whose prime objective is to earn profit, have their
social responsibilities, why not the electronic and the print media? So, it was
definitely a very sensible role that the media played about the situation of
Rawalpindi.
However, my question, as a Karachi-ite is, did the Pakistani
media ever display such responsibility on any unpleasant incident occurred in
Karachi? Did the electronic as well as the print media ever make a “blackout” of
any incident of violence in order to nib the tension in the bud? Unfortunately
not at all!Rather, it has been a customary that the news channels ensure their
live coverage with commentary on any event of violence whether it is an act of
target killing, murder attempt, clash or a suicide attack. The especial
coverage to Zulfiqar Mirza`s press conference at Karachi press club and then the
extremely irritating and ethnically based speech at the dinner of Shahi Syed is
one of the examples of the same.They
did not care at all that their irresponsible act can easily provoke other people
to negatively react to it. Honestly speaking, when the media`s role regarding
the Rawalpindi incident can be termed as responsible for the sake of keeping
the people united, should that not be construed as a deliberate act of instigating
violence in Karachi??
Someone claimed that it was theGHQ who asked the media not
to telecast news relating to the Rawalpindi incident so that
the law & order could be kept under control.Though it was questionable if
the GHQ had any right to control the media, but considering the good purpose,
it can be ignored. However, once again the question arises, why did the GHQ not ever
direct the media to be careful while reporting any unpleasant event in Karachi so
as to control the violence? Unfortunately, not speaking of doing that, even the
Police, Rangers and Army officials themselves become a party to the incident and
issue political statements against a specific party.
Similarly, the provincial as well as the federal administration
did not waste any time, taking into account the worsening situation, to call
the Army and impose curfew in Rawalpindi. However, the Karachi-ites keep
getting killed by way of target killings, ethnic cleansing or the attack at
their colonies, but neither the Army was called, nor was the curfew imposed in
order to provide shelter to them.
The way the violence was handled by all the relevant
elements including the media, government, Army as well as the political
analysts, it is sufficient to make the people of Karachi to open their eyes
that how the suspiciously created violence in Karachi is deliberately allowed
to spread. The question is, will the Supreme Court not take any notice of the
decades` prevailing conspiracy of viciously instigating violence in the city?
Will it not ask the relevant authorities why they do not handle Karachi`s law
& order as they dealt with Rawalpindi? If there is still silence over the
evil policy against Karachi-ites, it will surely be the act of backing the
culprits that will not be pardoned by God….Insha Allah
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