Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report اظہارِ رائے کی آزادی محدود، پیکا میں ترامیم سے میڈیا کو شدید دھچکا: رپورٹDawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric ڈان کی بھارتی میڈیا سے جنگی بیانیہ ترک کرنے کی اپیلIndia bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack پہلگام حملے کے بعد بھارت نے پاکستان کے 16 یوٹیوب چینلز پر پابندی لگا دی'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings ان اے ڈیفرنٹ ریلم کرکٹ کی عظیم ترین اننگز پر ایک فکری نقطۂ نظر پیش کرتی ہےCoordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows ہم آہنگی یا محض اتفاق؟ پاکستانی صحافیوں کے ایک جیسے ٹویٹس نے سوالات اٹھا دیےThe PSL paradox: pageantry or progress? پی ایس ایل کا تضاد: دکھاوا یا ترقی؟Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists after PTI expulsion پی ٹی آئی سے نکالے جانے کے بعد شیر افضل مروت کے صحافیوں پر ذاتی حملےJournalist Sanaullah Khan alleges FIA blocking accounts of YouTubers and families صحافی ثناء اللہ خان کا انکشاف: ایف آئی اے یوٹیوبرز اور ان کے خاندانوں کے اکاؤنٹس بلاک کر رہی ہےA launch in style: Dr. Nauman Niaz unveils 'In A Different Realm' ان اے ڈفرنٹ ریلم کی رونمائی: ڈاکٹر نعمان نیاز کی کتاب Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning سندھی صحافی اے ڈی شر کا بہیمانہ قتل، پی ایف یو جے نے تین روزہ سوگ کا اعلان کر دیاAJK government registers case against newspaper and staff آزاد کشمیر حکومت کا اخبار اور عملے کے خلاف مقدمہJournalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges FIA threats, possible arrest over reporting صحافی آرزو کاظمی کا دعویٰ: ایف آئی اے کی دھمکیاں، رپورٹنگ پر ممکنہ گرفتاری

When sensibility deserted the media

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published August 16, 2013 |  Z.B. Saigol

Join our WhatsApp channel

When sensibility deserted the media

KARACHI: For five hours, or thereabouts, yesterday a single gunman held Islamabad hostage, including hundreds of thousands of television viewers who sat glued to their seats throughout the mind-boggling confrontation that wavered from bizarre to downright insulting.


I say bizarre because it was surreal a la Alice in Wonderland as the gunman’s wife casually negotiated/mediated on his behalf and his two kids played on the grass in the nearby green belt even as he brazenly toted his weapons, and insulting because it was allowed to carry on for so long. There are a zillion questions to be asked about the incident.


First of all, how did this guy Sikander Whatshisname get into such a sensitive area of Islamabad brandishing such deadly automatic weapons – a Kalashnikov and a sub-machine gun – when there are police and security checkpoints at every ten yards of the city? Next, he almost made it to Constitution Avenue and this simply begs the question: How safe are the residents of Islamabad from real terrorists?


The man stopped his car on Jinnah Avenue and fired shots in the air. He then casually walked about even as police and hundreds of onlookers quickly gathered around. Nobody did anything. No attempt was made by the police to bring down this armed menace immediately. No attempt was made to keep the gathering crowd of onlookers away.


There was an amazingly casual air about the whole affair as the gunman quickly denounced the West, Nawaz Sharif’s government and Pakistani society in general, declaring that there was no place for vulgarity and immorality and demanding that Islamic Law immediately be implemented in the whole country.


SSP Operations, Islamabad, Dr. Rizwan tried to reason with him but the man refused any and all efforts to listen to sense even though it was pointed out that he had placed his children in danger.


Eventually, the gunman was distracted by PPP leader Zamurad Khan who tried to disarm him, and was shot in the leg and stomach as police finally opened fire. It was said the police had orders to bring the gunman in alive. Two police officers were injured as he fired back.
 
The man was arrested and so was his publicity greedy wife. Reports say that Zamurad has now offered to adopt the gunman’s children as both their parents will be going to jail. Unbelievable!!

And we know this all because….


For five straight hours every TV channel in the country showed nothing else. In a scramble to better their rating and outdoing each other the electronic media zeroed in on the venue of the incident and telecast live from there, every second of every minute. In between talk show hosts hastily found guests to discuss the enfolding drama.


Some media men talked to the gunman asking him why he was doing what he was doing, thereby giving him the opportunity to air his misplaced beliefs and reasons for taking matters into his own hands and how.


The gunman casually smoked, drank a beverage, strolled about with his guns, chatted with his kids in the back seat of the car, his wife frequently mediated on his behalf by cell phone and in person and it carried on and on.


The police stood by in droves and did nothing. The crowd became larger with every ticking minute. It could have been a music concert.


The media got more and more hysterical and dramatic. Big words were used. Cynicism and witty remarks flew thick and fast. And somewhere, in between, there were moments where one even detected sympathy for the gunman.


The viewers hung on to every minute of every development. The media continued to play it up.


Did they do right?


I think not.


It is my opinion that in their rush to push up their viewer ratings they would stoop to any level to inch ahead of each other no matter what the consequences or fallout of their actions.


Today, by dedicating five hours of coverage to this obviously disillusioned man they have also given license to other similar half-crazed or ideologically spoon-fed individuals to pursue and advocate their whims with the country looking on via TV news channels.


This man should have been thirty five seconds of local news… a voice over. Not even a report.
 Now, God knows how many others like him will be looking for their five hours of fame on television.
 
Today, for sure, better sense again deserted Pakistan’s news channels and those that run them. Let’s see what it will be that will top this ridiculous event and the even more irresponsible news coverage.
 
 
 

Chief Minister's 300 photos, 60 pages: Punjab's advertising excess

Chief Minister's 300 photos, 60 pages: Punjab's advertising excess

 February 26, 2025:  An in-depth analysis of the Punjab Government's excessive self-promotion through media, costing taxpayers millions while masquerading propaganda as achievements.

Media ethics collapse as Punjab government buys front pages for self-praise

Media ethics collapse as Punjab government buys front pages for self-praise

 February 25, 2025:  The Punjab government faces criticism for spending millions in taxpayer money on misleading front-page advertisements across major Pakistani newspapers, raising serious questions about media integrity and public resource management.

When talk shows turn battlegrounds: The ugly face of Pakistani TV

When talk shows turn battlegrounds: The ugly face of Pakistani TV

 January 23, 2025:  An in-depth look at the recent scuffle on a Pakistani talk show, its implications for media ethics, and the urgent need for TV channels to uphold decorum during debates.

Dangerous medical misinformation: How PTV's false narrative threatens cancer patients

Dangerous medical misinformation: How PTV's false narrative threatens cancer patients

 December 18, 2024:  A critical examination of dangerous medical misinformation broadcast on Pakistan Television, exposing how political propaganda can potentially harm cancer patients by spreading false treatment narratives.

Geo News faces backlash after controversial tweet targeting Richard Grenell

Geo News faces backlash after controversial tweet targeting Richard Grenell

 December 17, 2024:  Geo News faces criticism after a homophobic tweet targeting Richard Grenell, a Trump advisor advocating for Imran Khan's release, which was subsequently deleted.

Unethical reporting: Suno TV targets Matiullah Jan amid controversial arrest

Unethical reporting: Suno TV targets Matiullah Jan amid controversial arrest

 November 29, 2024:  Suno TV faces criticism for targeting senior journalist Matiullah Jan with a smear campaign following his controversial abduction and arrest. This raises serious concerns about media ethics and press freedom in Pakistan.

Sipping tea, watching lies: The reality of Pakistani media

Sipping tea, watching lies: The reality of Pakistani media

 August 17, 2024:  A viral video exposes a shocking reality about Pakistani media, where fake news circulates unchecked. The clip, featuring a false report on the arrest of former IG of Jails, Shahid Saleem, highlights the pervasive issue of yellow journalism and raises questions about news credibility.

Dr. Omar Adil's sexist comments against female anchors spark outrage

Dr. Omar Adil's sexist comments against female anchors spark outrage

 July 25, 2024:  Dr. Omar Adil's sexist remarks against female journalists, including Gharidah Farooqi, have ignited widespread criticism, calling for full accountability and stronger actions against misogynistic language in the industry.

Newsroom
Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report

Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report

 April 30, 2025 Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.

Dawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric

Dawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric

 April 30, 2025 Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.

India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack

India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack

 April 28, 2025 India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.

'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings

'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings

 April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.​

Coordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows

Coordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows

 April 23, 2025 Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.