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Media and the Soft Revolution In
Pakistan
Like other segments of Pakistani society,
Media is full of black sheep. Regardless, the information
emanating from various news and views sources are changing
Pakistan’s social, cultural and political landscape very fast.
This change is taking place at such a fast
pace, most of the segments of society and all state organs are
failing to keep up with it.
Pakistani ruling elite went bankrupt the day
Armed forces of Pakistan took over Pakistan in October, 1958.
This elite bankruptcy was reinforced after
Pakistan’s Federal and Supreme Courts consecutively put seal of
approval with favorable decisions to protect the illegal
takeovers.
The consequences of these takeovers are
evident in Pakistani society’s all strata of life from culture,
religion, literature, art, economic to politics.
Someone had to address all these wrinkles
vigorously to bring the balance. Pakistani media is precisely
doing the job.
Young journalists, mostly from lower middle
and middle class, have taken the driving seat.
They are simply superb. They are a hope for
new Pakistan. Their relentless efforts to highlight the wrinkles
of Pakistani society are slowly but surely bearing fruits. If
they continue their struggle no one should underestimate the
outcome: a reformed modern Pakistan.
Historically, Pakistan always had a vibrant
media. A strong tradition to take governments to head on has
always been there. One journalist or the other at a time played
a vital role in keeping subsequent governments on their toes.
The appearance of private TV channels has
totally changed the social, cultural, economic and political
landscape.
General Musharraf’s fall and judiciary’s
comeback are two shinning examples of Pakistan media’s
achievements.
PPP government, including President Zardari,
is playing on the back-foot. The media has forced them to back
off. Even the armed forces of Pakistan, the traditional
contenders of economic and political power, are treading
carefully. They are trying hard to avoid any slip that any TV
channel may capture.
The hopeful politicians are also taking their
steps carefully. They don’t want to be part of any footage which
may destroy their political future.
The importance media has achieved in
Pakistan, it puts a very serious responsibility on the shoulders
of those young anchors who are leading the social, cultural,
economic and political revolution in Pakistan.
While dealing with the wrinkles of Pakistani
society they must keep in view that they follow the higher
social, cultural, economic and political values. They should not
forget they are leading a soft revolution in Pakistan.
Therefore, they have to strengthen the right social, cultural,
economic and political values in the country. They have to watch
for the pitfalls which may damage Pakistan’s social fabric
forever.
The most serious pitfall is the over
representation of religious elements in the TV programs of
various TV channels.
Particularly, GEO is playing havoc in this
regard. The way GEO is reinventing Islam through its various
programs it is pushing already religiously tarnished Pakistan
into further religiosity.
These TV channels must understand the
destructive impact of overarching religious values in a society.
All mullahs whose faces we constantly see
through TV channels have connections with violent elements. They
harbor lawlessness, violence, sectarianism and religious
chauvinism in Pakistani society.
While dealing with social, cultural, economic
and political wrinkles, the young anchors must watch such
pitfalls.
Consciously or unconsciously the soft
revolution they are trying to bring in Pakistan must not let any
force overarch Pakistani society. They must strengthen
constitutionalism, rule of law, democracy in the country. They
should also nurture social, cultural and political freedoms.
Along with, they should work for reformation of all
institutions, particularly, the institutions that deal with
peoples’ social, cultural, economic and political rights.
Pakistanis should feel good about the young
media anchors whose efforts are bringing a soft revolution in
Pakistan through their persistence, journalistic acumen and
wits. | 
