Is someone awake in Islamabad?

When ex-Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afghan’s car was ambushed by enraged lawyers, April 2008, a prominent leader of Lawyers’ Movement was on spot to diffuse the situation — “just ask the TV cameramen to move out” (means lawyers were interested in attacking Afgan only if it’s a live telecast). That was 2008, today this lawlessness is reaching to new peaks. Post Mumtaz Qadri (MQ)’s hanging, attacks on journalists, media houses, press vehicles, press clubs are continued as miscreants are demanding live coverage of their rowdy behaviour. Friday was the worst as angry mobs went on to attack and damage Hyderabad press club, offices of Aaj News in Karachi and Lahore, digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) vans of Abb Takk and Aaj News were damaged in Lahore.

Countless reporters of different TV channels were injured as attacked by protestors. One would appreciate electronic media’ responsible role in keeping a low profile on MQ hanging, and that’s not to provoke sentiments but this has backfired on media itself. I wonder why Police, Rangers and other LEAs were unable to control this open lawlessness, or they preferred to let anger be diverted to others? MQ supporters are not only active on the streets, but also on social media which is flooded with his videos from the death cell, reciting naats and showing his pleasure going to gallows for a cause. One may presume these are fake or doctored videos, but these are acting as acid to leave their impact on general public. Where is IT ministry to stop this propaganda which will make things more troublesome in coming days?

If electronic media is calm, that’s not some sort of in-house introspection, instead government (read PEMRA) has advised them so. But what about print media? Is ministry of information aware what’s going on there? Pakistan’s largest Urdu newspaper carried a column by Dr Hussain Paracha, March 04, wherein he not only justified MQ’s act but also threatened of such acts in future as people are free to murder a blasphemer as same has been permitted by Almighty Allah. I remember soon after Governor Salmaan Taseer’s murder in 2011, another senior journalist, Ansar Abbasi, ran a series of columns in the same newspaper wherein he justified MQ’s act by quoting events from Prophet’s (PBUH) period.

If hanging of MQ proves government’s desire to establish writ of law, then what’s being provoked on street and in print media by playing with religious sentiments shall come under strict scrutiny.

Is someone in Islamabad listening?

MASOOD KHAN

Jubail, Saudi Arabia