|
Free reporting in Pakistan (an over view)
Government has sky high announcements of media freedom but i am unable to understand why they cant bear TV talk shows especially Dr Shahid' Meray Mutabiq.
GEO on the other hand is claiming no surrender to government and free media, but without any announcement, without any condemnation without any notice, blocking its own program for what.
Today dated 06-10-07(Saturday), we were expecting the program Meray Mutabiq by Dr Shahid Masood, as it is scheduled on Saturday, but after waiting till 9:15 UAE time, we came to know this program is not going to be on air on GEO TV.
why there is no excuse and there is no announcement.
If GEO TV cant air any program then at least they should inform people in change of program, instead waiting and disappointing.
Today's program of Meray Mutabiq was expected to be very exclusive as there were three very hot issues, and we were waiting very impatiently, but in the end there was no program
The issues which were expected to be discussed in today's program were
1-Supreme court's verdict of not announcing the result of Presidential Election
2-Election of President
3-Ordinance of re-conciliation
But once again GEO TV has proved that they are not worse then PTV in any manner, as when ever there is need of independent view point over critical issues, they love to hide in a banker and they are doing this all by covering government as well.
Even if due to government pressure they are not allowed to do some thing at least they should inform public that we are doing this under government pressure.
The worse examples of reporting by Pakistani "FREE" are
1-No coverage of operation in Baluchistan, during and after (and this can widen the gulf between Balochi people and Pakistani people)
2-No coverage of Waziristan operation, only coverage is allowed when ISPR has to announce some thing
3-No coverage of mosques demolition prior to LAL Masjid actions
4-No coverage of LAL Masjid operation (during and after)
5-No coverage of PML(N) and APDM during and after Nawaz deportation
6- and now No coverage of Presidential election from opposition point of view
Just one example of today's coverage, Justice (R) Tariq Mahmoud told GEO around 4 PK time, that the polling agents they nominated for presidential election were not allowed to enter and monitor the elections, but this news didn't appear later in any discussion, and even when he was telling this, the anchor didn't like comment on this. Secondly in every news they are highlighting that Justice Wajeeh-ud-din took how many votes, why they are not saying that amin Fahim didn't get any vote, because there are no news of his withdrawl.
On many issues, these private channels are misguiding people as well, there is no doubt that they start aggressively on issues, but their tendency to face the pressure is very less, and this is why they are making more confusion, as when a person watching PTV, deep in his mind, he is always thinking this could be wrong, but when a person watching private TV program, deep in their mind he is thinking this is private channel so this could be true.
So my request to private TV channels, please try to save their credibility, if there is any.
Only one coverage GEO and other media gave to Pakistani people and that was of Chief Justice.
But in the very end of this coverage when every thing was getting out of control from government's hand, they again bowed their head in front of might Musharraf.
My humble request to all Pakistani people, please dont take this media as free media and dont assume that reporting done by private channels is independent and truly said.
I think, if Dr Shahid, is really a neutral person, who can bear the pressure instead of lying in front of it, then in his next program, he should tell us , why his today's program couldn't make on air.
Note: i was more specific about GEO TV, as my cable operator provides me only GEO TV and ARY ONE channels only in UAE.
|