Pigeons without wings

Published in Tehelka.

In 2002, Pervez Musharaf opened up the airwaves of Pakistani Media, and a proliferation of news channels followed. While many found this ironic, it has been pretty clear that media and national conversation in Pakistan is much controlled by the authorities. And that a torrent of at-least 25 private news channel does not necessarily ensure freedom of speech.

A lot changed after this opening of window for Pakistani journalism and journalist. Especially with political cartoonists, TV channels and generally the mainstream media; which previously was rather mythically centric, under-informative, and extremely biased towards the pro-government portrayal of the picture. This gave way to many journalists and artist to test their potential in the newly emerged electronic media and its by products. In a country where media recently found its voice, many groundbreaking, challenging and tough; intriguing and compelling voices came out, in the form of television and radio shows, print and online news papers and blogs, political cartoons, art, poetry and even music. The shows were instant hit among the liberal elite as the drive to bring transparency and accountability strengthened. But today after various bans, censorship impositions and torturing of activist, artists, journalists; many forthright speakers feel they had miscalculated.
It is a bad idea for an activists or journalist to do anything which has anything to do with the military, as PEMRA has a history of halting broadcasts and closing media outlets. According to a section, publication or broadcast of “anything which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state,” as well as any broadcasts deemed to be “false or baseless” can bring jail terms of up to three years, fines of up to 10 million rupees (US$165,000), and license cancellation.
Perversely, PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) sometimes strictly banns outfits that discredit the army while does not take significant action against the fascist “analysts” like Zaid Hamid who vocally supported extremist ideologies with his emphasized hearsay and conjecture, catalyzed by anti-Indian and pro army emotions. Contrarily, cantankerous journalists who pull no punches but are armed with serious facts are the ones who are at a greater threat of being silenced. What thrives is the sensational media which is apparently not bantered by the PEMRA, having no real content but apparently are fed on conspiracy theories, lambasting people just for the sake of scandalous v/s good TV.
One such documentary program by TV journalist S. Wajahat Khan called ‘We are soldiers’ was banned by the army as it alongside gave a section to the Indian side of a military conflict. They were told to edit out the Indian side of the event and only show the Pakistani side of the event. “Not only edit it, but re-edit with a clarification that this is the correct version and then re-air it” says Wajahat Khan. Since it was not a balanced version, Wajahat refused to do so; backed by his channel DAWN NEWS who decided to let the army ban the show, as they could not air a version which was not up to the channels principals as far as fair and balanced journalism is concerned. It is the trail of this sort of blazer that leads to many journalists in Pakistan exiting the country and working in foreign countries if not entirely quitting as journalists.
All (and not most) media organizations in Pakistan are wary of the fight and decline many ideas and reportage by journalists, especially which have to do with war-torn areas like Waziristan, Balochistan and the Frontiers.
Reporting hits a wall if it’s about the military which according to Reporters Without Border makes Pakistan one of the most dangerous in the world. According to Freedom House, Pakistan ranks 61 on the scale of 100 in terms of ‘freedom of speech’ in the world. Since political and crime journalists, lawyers and artists continue to face threats, they as a result increasingly self censor if not entirely switch genres, beats, or dimensions of their roles.
With media industry being rather new in Pakistan, its systems and structures are much undeveloped. While some other mechanisms like biases and political inclinations, are very highly developed. What is scary for a journalist is not being able to deal with that or worse, be on the inside of that machine.

Censorship tells us more about the culprit than it does uncensored. So rightfully the adage goes: one must never believe anything, unless officially denied. Laal’s song “Jhoot ka uncha sar” has recently been banned – taken off air and shelved. Inspired by Habib Jalib’s revolutionary poetry, Laal’s new video seems like an antidote to the social hypocrisy in which the society has inadvertently indulged. The video – directed by Taimur Rehman (vocalist & co-founder of the band); is highly impactful and leaves one pondering for hours. It raises questions about the mentally dysfunctional society; depicting the lies that we tell ourselves so habitually that they have become our second nature.
It’s not hard to tell why this video could have been banned. As it highlights seemingly organized fissures in the system used in instances of political cartoons to utilize symbolism; that laughably point out the ironies in the state system. Taimur says, “We live right amid these ironies, but are we asking the questions that we are supposed to ask? Yes that’s the important part.”

Earlier in May 2011 the slain journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad’s – who was killed for the same reasons of divulging facts; was also banned within Pakistan. Hamza Ameer, the late journalist’s brother-in-law says “The book was banned in Pakistan as sources told me they were deliberately (ordered to be) made inaccessible at the book stores.” When Hamza got in touch with the publishers and distributors in UK he was rendered speechless to find out that the book was “also restricted at the airport by the custom.” Although the ban was recently withdrawn, but a constant threat of censorship remains unbolted, for all outspoken journalists, musicians and civilians.

According to Freedom House, Freedom on the Internet Report 2011, Pakistan’s Press freedom status on ‘not free’.  It is not unusual for authorities to pay for favorable press coverage, a practice that is exacerbated by the low salary levels of many journalists.

According to a source, “The government continues to restrict and censor some published material. Foreign books need to pass government censors before being reprinted. Books and magazines can be imported freely, but are subject to censorship for objectionable sexual or religious content. Obscene literature, a category the government defines broadly, is subject to seizure. Showing Indian films in Pakistan was banned starting with the 1965 war between the two countries until 2008 when the ban was partially lifted.

The press is much more restricted in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), where independent radio is allowed only with permission from the government and no newspapers are published, and in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, where publications need special permission from the regional government to operate and pro-independence publications are generally prohibited. In Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province reporters are caught between the Baloch nationalists and the government.”

On November 8th, 2010 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocked The Bloch Hal, the first online Baloch newspaper which extensively covers Baloch insurgency, violence and militancy. Although the website can be accessed via a few internet services but it is completely banned in Balochistan and the northern areas of Punjab. Editor in Chief of Baloch Hal, Malik Siraj Akbar says, “The website has been blocked on the instructions of the intelligence wing of Pakistan military, by the PTA.” Malik is eager to find out which particular stories are a cause of concern for the authorities and is bored by the fact how they block without warning. “It’s a very old Government tactic to block websites but they are being increasingly selective about the Bloch websites and other mediums of communications”

Over the years more than 70 Baloch newspapers, websites and portals have been banned, including Daily Aasaap, Daily Azaadi, and Daily Balochistan express. Many Baloch journalists have also been kidnapped, physically tortured, and killed; vertically in essence to be left as a warning for others. The liberal and progressive youth of Balochistan however, is determined to put their perspective before the global audience.
“This kind of pressure doesn’t really discourage us in any way at all” Taimur says “Even if we are entirely banned on local channels we can always continue our music to be shared with online viewers, YouTube, international media and so on. It might dent our popularity for a little while but it certainly won’t have any impact on us, in changing what and why we are doing it.” However Taimur Rahman is still pondering over how he would go about the release for Laal’s next video Dehshatgardi Murdabad.

 

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