Now that the Islamabad lockdown is behind us, it would do us good to look at one particular incident that dealt with the media itself. An incident that didn’t get much attention in the press or on the airwaves because the heat of the political moment dictated other headlines.
When a reporter asked Imran Khan to comment on the thrashing that a fellow reporter had received at the hands of spirited activists of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, he asked which channel was she talking about. Geo, she replied. Ask Geo to improve its reporting first.
Guffaws emanated from the political lackeys assembled. A creepy smirk on Imran Khan’s face.
And it was funny, one supposes. The idea that journalists from organisations whose views one does not subscribe to are fair game for a slap or two.
Political activists are an emotional lot. They can be rough around the edges. You will have incidents like these and a party leadership should not be held accountable for the misbehaviour of the odd follower. But when a party leader makes light of something as serious as this, it is another matter entirely.
Being a journalist, this obviously has greater emotional resonance with me. But it should be equally offensive to anyone from another profession.
Likening an attitude like this to fascism isn’t a belaboured stretch; it is text-book fascism. It is an affront to the freedom of the press that the entire media community did not find the statement offensive.
