Media trials, Ms Gulalai, will stain you too
Rare are the subjects on which the Pakistani nation can agree. And yet, rare though they may be, the dissection of a woman in the spotlight has historically been one of the most popular.
Whatever her intentions, Ayesha Gulalai’s political career and aspirations — even her family ties — may well be overshadowed by the scandal following her accusations. The scrutiny and harassment that followed — particularly on Twitter — should come as no shock. What we find surprising though is that this lawmaker chose to ignore existing legislation that would have given her justice — and chose instead to take to the screen. Hamid Mir, it would seem, can at least verify that the alleged texts do exist, and that they are in fact inappropriate. Yet a TV host — respected though he is — is not judge and jury.
Our advice to Ms Gulalai is to take a look at not only Pakistan’s Penal Code, but also Articles 18 and 19 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016. If nothing else, this is workplace harassment — a serious offence in its own rights. But it deserves judicial attention, not a media trial. Column inches and air time are starved enough for actual news as it is.
