Gagging the media is unwise
By Ghayoor Ahmed
Monday,July 02,2007
FOR a society to exist, certain communication system is a must. Even the primitive tribes had evolved several methods to this end which have been left behind by a changing world and replaced by the mass media that has become an increasingly important means of communication. The advent of modern technology has given a further impetus to it.
It is hardly necessary to over-emphasise the importance of a free media in a democratic country as it has become an effective instrument for strengthening the norms of democracy and creating a deliberative atmosphere to enable the people, who are the arbiters of their destiny, to make informed choices on important national issues. One cannot ignore the fact that media is in the vanguard of providing the relevant information to them that facilitates the decision-making process relating to their individual and collective lives.
In Pakistan one often hears or reads criticism against the media for its alleged irresponsible conduct. It is accused of projecting certain events in a manner that brings the government and its policies into disrepute and, therefore, the people at the helm justified the recent imposition of certain restrictions on the media. Regrettably, this is a much-derided argument that completely overlooks the fact that media is a mirror and its coverage of events only depicts what is actually happening in the country. The media should not, therefore, be accused of exaggeration if it does not toe the official line.
The exponents of restrictions on the media also ignore the fact that a large proportion of people in Pakistan are politically conscious and, therefore, they should not worry if the media sometimes presents confusing views on important national issues which, needless to say, is part of a democratic system. It is indeed unfortunate that the government considered it necessary to tighten screws on the media in order to force it to fall in line.
Being the fourth institution outside the government, the media also keeps a check on misuse of power by the three pillars of the state, namely, the legislative, the judiciary and the executive and, therefore, in a democratic polity an independent and strong media, unfettered by restrictions, is necessary to ensure good governance. It should therefore, be allowed to pursue its functions without fear or favour. As a matter of fact, it should not only be provided sufficient space but also protection for its lawful performance, even if, at times, it appears to be highly critical of the government.
However, at the same time, it has to be emphasised that while performing their functions, the media persons should not be swayed by personal likes or dislikes or any other subjective consideration white covering or commenting on events. They must perform their functions objectively and honestly. It is the right of the people to know the truth and the media persons must make earnest efforts to meet their expectations. One must, however, appreciate the fact that the media persons are often too near the events they cover to make a balanced judgment, especially when they see some appalling acts of barbarism or suppression being carried out during the performance of their professional duties.
There was no plausible excuse for imposing unreasonable restrictions on the media in the wake of the current judicial crisis, which has completely reversed the policy of freedom of expression that was being pursued by President General Pervez Musharraf. To say the least, it is a clear manifestation of the lack of comprehension on the part of those functionaries who have done it at a time when the country is already in a state of political turmoil. The ill-advised arm-twisting tactics adopted by them have unnecessarily created tension between the government and the media that could lead to undesirable consequences that may impinge on the national interests.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers”. The provisions of this Declaration are considered to have the weight of international law because they are so widely accepted and used as a yardstick for measuring the conduct of states.
Many countries, including Pakistan, have included the provisions of the Universal Declaration in their basic laws. It is, however, regrettable that the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has recently expressed his concern over the curbing of the freedom of the media in certain countries, including Pakistan.
The ongoing government-media crisis is a serious development that has created a serious situation. Prudence demands that before the present standoff between the government and the media becomes any worse, an unconditional and result-oriented dialogue be initiated between the two sides to resolve the matter in the right spirit. Both sides must redefine their relationship in a fair and objective spirit. Failure to do so will make things worse for both and for the country.
The writer is a former ambassador.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/07/02/op.htm#2