This is with reference to Nasim Zehra’s article published in Pakistan Today “Media is not the culprit here” on 31 January. It has thrown light on the bad governance on the part of Prime Minister. The writer starts with Memogate and Haqqani’s resignation purportedly to be on the advice of COAS and DG ISI. Since DG ISI had personally flown to London to get the facts verified from Mr Mansoor; therefore, the PM had to give weight to his concerns but the decision was that of PM’s, let us not undermine the authority of the PM.
If COAS and DG ISI were so powerful the secretary defence could have never been fired. Since the memo matter is still in the court, no one has the right to discuss it on the media as it attracts provision of contempt of court which has become a joke as everyone gets away easily.
Let us put the record straight. PIA suffered losses due to faulty policies, like allowing private airlines to operate at cheaper rates and later on go in default. No private airline operates on northern routes where the fares are heavily subsidised. Railways’ locomotives and carriages were purchased during Musharraf’s era which did not even meet the guarantee period and you need billions of rupees to rehabilitate Railways.
What is happening in Balochistan is the result of Gen Musharraf’s wrong policies. Can anyone deny that sabotage was going on in Balochistan, like blowing of gas pipe lines, power towers and target killing? What is new? The frequency of crime keeps varying with local conditions.
Something for the media anchors: Pakistan is a unique country where media is free to talk, debate, abuse and discuss anything including privacy of citizens (Maya Khan of Samaa TV has been fired on that account).This is not a case in isolation, I am sure more heads would roll if they do not mend their habits. Can anyone cite an example from anywhere in the world where president and prime minister is ridiculed in most undignified manner as we do in Pakistan? Perhaps it is the ratings problem. But at what cost? President is a symbol of federation and prime minister is the chief executive, both deserve respect as they represent Pakistan on all international forums throughout the world.
I have no love last for the PPP or for that matter any other personality but lines have to be drawn. It cannot be free for all. Where was the media in 2008 when President Asif Zardari filed his nomination paper? Didn’t he have all those corruption cases against him including the Swiss cases? Why was his nomination not debated by media? Why other candidates contesting for president’s slot did not object? Where was the Election Commission? Why did not anybody approach judiciary as it attracted Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan? Why was he voted overwhelmingly by all the assemblies? We have to give credit to the president and the prime minister for bearing with the insult being hurled everyday on both of them.
We are doing no good to the country. As rightly pointed out we should for the time being forget Memogate scandal, it is ending nowhere. With the exit of Husain Haqqani things should be very clear. Let us not disturb common man with these issues as these have nothing to do with the common man. Let us highlight only common man’s problems. Let us stop talking about corruption; it has become institutionalised, it differs in degree only as the previous government also had scandals. The biggest scandal in the history of Pakistan goes back to Gen Musharraf’s era where Steel Mill was sold just in 20 billion rupees whereas the land alone cost Rs 100 billion.
In the words of William Bernbach, “All of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarise that society. We can brutalise it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level.”
MUKHTAR AHMED
Karachi