All's fair in Pakistani media

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 28 June 2012 | Saadia Khalid

This article explores the intersection of media and politics in Pakistan, highlighting how public forgetfulness shapes ongoing media dynamics. Key examples include the resurgence of controversial figures despite past scandals.
Summary

LEEDS: The widely used proverb ‘all is fair in love and war’ has an apt alternate version when it comes to Pakistan’s media, especially given the recent circumstances and events. It then becomes ‘All is fair in media and politics’.

We know for a fact that people have a short memory when it comes to politics; they vote for the same old candidates irrespective of their previous poor performance. They condemn the current government for inflation, load shedding and disastrous law and order situation but they would still vote for them again during the next elections if not in the upcoming one.

Call it a manufacturing fault or attitude problem but this is how we have behaved as a nation and individuals for as long as one can recall. A person who had lost all credibility as the power minister is now the prime minister of the country. This is not a strange occurrence, especially when it comes to Pakistan and politics.

It’s no different in the case of the Pakistan’s media industry which has become hostage to suited-booted intellectual impostors. Nothing has changed even after the recent leaked off air videos which would have spelt the end for anyone’s career elsewhere in the world.

We either have a really short memory or are too tied up with daily life issues to give much thought to such things. Dunya TV that was under fire only weeks ago has bounced back, showing in ratings released by them that they are ahead of Geo at certain time slots. People have already forgotten about the staged Meher-Lucqman interview with Malik Riaz.

It all seems to be part of a bigger game. Meher Bokhari continues to carry on her aggressive ways at the same channel. Nasim Zehra, who had resigned, has taken her resignation back. Everything seems to have settled down quickly and smoothly.

And now that so called ‘doctor’, Amir Liaquat Hussain, is back with Geo TV just months after he was roundly criticized for using filthy language and insensitive remarks about women in one of the leaked videos that became viral in February. The reason for his comeback is no other than the huge revenue that his sermons brought to the ARY during last year’s Ramadan transmission.

The Geo management perhaps could not afford to let this opportunity pass by again and patched up with him, rehiring him and giving him additional designations and responsibilities. And how would this go down with viewers? Well, they would listen to naats and sermons and once gain be fooled into believing that he is a man of great character.

With all certainty Geo would top the ratings during Ramadan. Just like people forget the performance of their politicians, they will also forget about the mess in the media industry. (The writer is a journalist based in England) *The views expressed by the writer do not necessarily reflect the views of JournalismPakistan.com

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