Assalam Alaikum,

As a Pakistani away from Pakistan, I pray for my brothers and sisters in these times of hardships, and wish I was there to extend my hand to help with anything and everything I have.

Coming back to the issue, I have listened and watch very extensive coverage of the quake, its aftermath, and the response. It comforts me to know that we as a nation proved that we are one, be it opposition, government, charities or private citizens. But still I have seen many deficiencies in the relief efforts, given that it’s a massive effort and we are exhausting all our resources, but the question remains that can we do better, I think we can.

I firmly believe that media plays a vital role in reporting news, but the role of media is more than reporting, it is of evaluating and putting forth the constructive criticism into what went right, and where it went wrong.

Hurricane Katrina and Rita are the very good example of it, where the media literally made Bush’s nights restless and had him on his toes, not only that several high ranking officials got fired, and gave a chance to administration to self evaluate. Congress hearings were scheduled in the aftermath. None of this could’ve possibly been done without media, without those raw images appearing on TV of death and misery.

It is unfortunate that in our country we think criticism can only be done by burning tires on the road and clashing with police, or at least that’s what the opposition does. Therefore, any constructive criticism is seen as a ploy in the form of “Musharraf Hataao Tehreek,” against the establishment. Needless to say that media in the whole process wants to keep all sides happy, and don’t get critical in their evaluations, and the masses get the perception of everything being FINE and DANDY.

As I listened to the coverage, people who are taking part in the radio stations and on TV in the form of public forums have been told not to criticize but to pray and reach out. I say we do both, and so should the media, because together we can avoid any more death and misery that the people have already faced, and give them a new start.

Self evaluation will strive us to do better, not worst. As far as making some people unhappy, well that’s part of journalism, you can’t keep every one happy, especially those in the spotlight.

Thanks.

Walaikum Salaam Mr. Babban!

Its really a great pleasure for me to reply you once again.

Well dear brother, I appreciate your concerns about the Pakistani Media. But the point here is that Pakistani media can not yield the same results as the American Media did. America is a democracy while Pakistan is a quasi-federal, quasi-parliamentary and hyper-presidential state. Its something near dictatorship. There is no accountability. So media won't be useful until there is some full-fledged democracy!

This is my own opinion, people reserve the right to disagree!

Regards,
Adil Memon

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"The race is not over because I haven't won yet."

Adil Memon
Police Service of Pakistan (P.S.P)
37th Common Training Program

hmmm

i am not of the view that media did not take part in the crisis, better to say 'constructive criticism'

on certain occassion i sat in front of t.v. nd had seen constructive criticism by 'Aaj' 'Indus Vision' and 'Geo' , and on certain occassions v vre compeled to consider the 'Geo' as an anti government/opposition channel, which attributed many losses to the government's slow action

i listened to many pple who use to say that there is not much devastation nd channels are only clamouring, but many in the administration got several weak points of their actions from media !!

any how, Pakistan is a land of great pple and inshallah it would prosper and Allah wil be helping al of us to sustain the disaster

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'Thee woh ik shakhs kay tasawar saay - abb woh ranayee khayal kahaan'