The reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhury was a victory for not just those who opposed former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, but also for Pakistan’s fourth estate.
Facing violence and near shut down, the media in Pakistan that fought at every step to ensure their voices did not go unheard.
It was political drama at its best – a Chief Justice defied a military dictator, triggered a movement for justice and democracy, and finally won.
Capturing every moment, the Pakistan media braved bullets, tear gas, baton charge and gagging orders by the Musharraf regime. Pakistan’s leading news channel, Geo TV was smashed for showing police brutality.
Ironically, Musharraf who had allowed independent news channels to open up shut them down during the emergency he imposed in November 2007.
“As a military dictator behaves, Musharraf was behaving like that. He did not want to see the truth, he wanted to suppress the truth and that is why, there was a crackdown. I would praise the working journalists in this country who refused to compromise, or to take the pressure,” said Absar Alam, former Geo TV bureau chief and Duniya TV director news.
“The pressure, let me tell you was enormous, there were life threats there, there was harassment. And the temptation was also there, but journalists in Pakistan braved the threats and harassment and temptations. I would praise Geo TV, who took a stand and despite suffering billions of rupees in losses they did not compromise on principle,” added Alam.
It was middle class power at its best, inspired by Iftikhar Chaudhry’s defiance to step down on Musharraf’s order. This paved the way for democratic forces to challenge a military dictatorship.
“It was for the first time in Pakistan’s history that a judge openly challenged a military dictator and refused to resign on his orders. He was ready to face all the allegations leveled against him. It was that defiance to a Chief of Army staff that inspired journalists who took a stand on the issue, faced baton charge and now thankgod we have triumph,” exclaimed Shadab Riaz, senior reporter, Aaj TV.
Media analysts say it was also the compulsion of the market that compelled TV channels to cover the lawyer’s movement and those who did not lagged behind in TV ratings.
“It’s been different because battle lines have been drawn in this issue and there are very few bystanders. Everybody has a like or a dislike and the viewers want to project their likes or dislikes onto other people. They want TV channels to tell them what they think they want to hear. So, when we try and be neutral, we do get some flak,” expolained Fahd Hussain, director news, Express TV.
The struggle for a free media is not new to journalists in Pak. Since the sixties, journalists have been in the mainstream for the struggle for democracy. And now with coming of age of an electronic media the impact of journalism is much stronger.
“What we are seeing in Pakistan right now is a very silent slow revolution taking place in which the people are taking power from the state. One of the channels through which it is happening is the news media. So, it is happening a gradual transformation of Pakistan society with the media being the engine of change right now. That is happening in front of our eyes and we are going to start seeing the impact of this gradual silent revolution in the next few years to come,” added Hussain.
Pakistan’s nascent but bold media has proved that it can take on any government, military or democratic. However, it still has to live up to people’s expectations by demonstrating its objectivity and maturity in covering a volatile country like Pakistan.
Facing violence and near shut down, the media in Pakistan that fought at every step to ensure their voices did not go unheard.
It was political drama at its best – a Chief Justice defied a military dictator, triggered a movement for justice and democracy, and finally won.
Capturing every moment, the Pakistan media braved bullets, tear gas, baton charge and gagging orders by the Musharraf regime. Pakistan’s leading news channel, Geo TV was smashed for showing police brutality.
Ironically, Musharraf who had allowed independent news channels to open up shut them down during the emergency he imposed in November 2007.
“As a military dictator behaves, Musharraf was behaving like that. He did not want to see the truth, he wanted to suppress the truth and that is why, there was a crackdown. I would praise the working journalists in this country who refused to compromise, or to take the pressure,” said Absar Alam, former Geo TV bureau chief and Duniya TV director news.
“The pressure, let me tell you was enormous, there were life threats there, there was harassment. And the temptation was also there, but journalists in Pakistan braved the threats and harassment and temptations. I would praise Geo TV, who took a stand and despite suffering billions of rupees in losses they did not compromise on principle,” added Alam.
It was middle class power at its best, inspired by Iftikhar Chaudhry’s defiance to step down on Musharraf’s order. This paved the way for democratic forces to challenge a military dictatorship.
Media analysts say it was also the compulsion of the market that compelled TV channels to cover the lawyer’s movement and those who did not lagged behind in TV ratings.
“It’s been different because battle lines have been drawn in this issue and there are very few bystanders. Everybody has a like or a dislike and the viewers want to project their likes or dislikes onto other people. They want TV channels to tell them what they think they want to hear. So, when we try and be neutral, we do get some flak,” expolained Fahd Hussain, director news, Express TV.
The struggle for a free media is not new to journalists in Pak. Since the sixties, journalists have been in the mainstream for the struggle for democracy. And now with coming of age of an electronic media the impact of journalism is much stronger.
“What we are seeing in Pakistan right now is a very silent slow revolution taking place in which the people are taking power from the state. One of the channels through which it is happening is the news media. So, it is happening a gradual transformation of Pakistan society with the media being the engine of change right now. That is happening in front of our eyes and we are going to start seeing the impact of this gradual silent revolution in the next few years to come,” added Hussain.
Pakistan’s nascent but bold media has proved that it can take on any government, military or democratic. However, it still has to live up to people’s expectations by demonstrating its objectivity and maturity in covering a volatile country like Pakistan.
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