Defending the Media – By Najam Sethi July 25, 2008
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar in Malik Siraj Akbar.Tags: cartoon, Daily Aaj Kal, Daily Times, fascist, freedom of press, Geo TV, Jang, Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz, MQM, Najam Sethi, Nawaz Sharif, NWFP, Pervez Musharraf, The Friday Times, Umme Hassaan
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Najam Sethi
Defending the Media
By Najam Sethi
First it was The Friday Times. Then it was Daily Times. Now it is Daily Aajkal. All three papers are at the receiving end of credible threats from radical religious extremists to change their editorial policies which espouse liberal, democratic, progressive and humanist values. The Taliban have forcibly stopped the sale of Daily Aajkal in FATA and hurled menacing warnings at the paper in Peshawar. The latest threats and incitement to violence come from the mullahs of the Lal Masjid and their network in Islamabad and Punjab.
The pretext is a cartoon in Aajkal of Umme Hassaan, the fiery wife of Maulana Abdul Aziz of the Lal Masjid. It shows her teaching the virtues of jihad and kidnapping to her students, a reference to her statements on the need to wage violent jihad and the kidnapping of five Chinese carried out by her Lal Masjid activists last year. Mrs Hassaan claims the cartoon is blasphemous like the Danish cartoons. But by so insisting, she is putting herself on the same pedestal as the Prophet of Islam (pbuh), which is truly blasphemous. Actually, she cannot stand the thought of being the object of satirical comment even though her brand of radical politics is much more objectionable than that of most double-dealing politicians who are daily lampooned by the media. The only difference is that while politicians take cartoons in their stride, as they should according to the rules of the democratic game, the self-righteous radical clerics are prone to use violent means to stifle dissent or adverse comment. This is what they did in Algeria and in Egypt where hundreds of journalists were assassinated in the 1990s because they dared to oppose their brand of extremist politics.
In the world of today where information is delivered on the second into every house via cable or satellite, everyone needs to be on the right side of the media. Two issues constantly arise – the extent of media freedom and its relationship with media responsibility. There are no hard and fast rules except one: media freedom ends only where someone else’s freedom is violated. This media “freedom” is defined by well known laws like the law of defamation and the law of contempt, and an independent judiciary is the final arbiter of who is right and who is wrong. But violence cannot be allowed to stifle debate or dissent.
In recent times, two major repressions stand out in particular. Nawaz Sharif lashed out at the Jang Group and The Friday Times in 1999. And General Pervez Musharraf pulled the plug on a number of TV channels in 2007, wounding the Geo/Jang group the most. But both strategies were doomed to fail as Mr Sharif and General Musharraf can testify.
Significantly, non-state actors armed with weapons and/or passionate ideologues are increasingly “using” the Pakistani media or “exploiting” it for the propagation of their ideas and interests. But serious problems arise when any section of the media doesn’t agree with their policies or seeks to expose their narrow interests or anti-state positions. In democratic societies, the law takes its course for the resolution of such disputes or differences of opinion. But in non-democratic societal cultures, like that of Pakistan, such non-state actors are often inclined to use threat of violence or actual violence to silence media critics or affect editorial policy changes to suit their goals.
The classic example that used to be given in Pakistan about non-state actors using violent means and direct threats to bring the media in line was that of the MQM in Karachi. The MQM is a cadre based ethnic party that has a criminal and fascist record even though it is avowedly secular. But the media has managed to survive despite its violent threats and practices. However, the latest menace to the media emanates from radical extremist fundamentalist religious belief that goes under the name of “political Islamism”. It is self-righteous, self-obsessed and intolerant. Various armed groups professing jihad and Talibanism are now trying to capture the imagination of the free media and mould it according to their view and version of world events. They are doing this largely by invoking fear and retribution. How should the media react to this latest threat to its integrity?
The primary responsibility of protecting the media lies with the armed state. But where the state abdicates such responsibility, either because it has a dubious relationship with such non-state religious groups or because it cannot defend and enforce its writ against them because of internal weaknesses, both of which are relevant in the case of the Pakistani state, the media has no choice but to band together and close ranks despite internal strains and stresses of personalities, egos and commercial interests. Indeed, when some of us are attacked thus, it is time not only to boycott the propagandistic activities of such non-state actors but to openly criticize them at every opportunity. When journalists can routinely threaten to boycott politicians and proceedings in parliament, and agitate against government for not accepting their demands, why can’t they unite and react similarly when these religious vigilantes threaten any of us?
The BUITMS deadlock July 19, 2008
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar in Malik Siraj Akbar.Tags: alochistan University of Information Technology and Man, Baloch, Balochistan, Balochistan Governor and University Chancellor Nawab Zu, IT University, Malik Siraj Akbar, open merit, Qambar Baloch, Quetta, quota
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The deadlock at the Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences (BUITMS) continued on Friday as Balochistan Governor and University Chancellor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi refused to concede to the students’ demand of replacing open merit with a district-based quota system. Hundreds of students from the BUITMS boycotted their classes and took out a protest rally from the Quetta Press Club, which culminated in a sit-in in front of Governor’s House. The students shouted slogans against the governor and the open merit policy at the university, arguing that the current admission policy favoured the non-Baloch ethnic communities.
They criticised the vice chancellor of the BUITMS and added that if the doors of the BUITMS were closed for the Baloch students they would not allow the non-Baloch to study there either.
Representatives of the governor asked the protesters to send four of their representatives inside Governor’s House for talks, but the students demanded the governor to come out of his residence and make his stance clear in front of everyone. Magsi gave in to the demands and rally organiser Qambar Baloch informed him that the students had been struggling to get the admission policy changed for past many months.
When their demands were rejected, the students announced an unto death hunger strike in front of the Quetta Press Club. Magsi said he had already formed a committee consisting of all political parties, which would meet in the next 15-20 days to discuss the matter.
BUITMS students for change in admission policy July 13, 2008
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar in Malik Siraj Akbar.Tags: Abdul Qayyum Baloch, Admission policy, Baloch, Balochistan, Balochistan University of Information Technology and Ma, Khurshid Baloch, Qambar Baloch
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By Malik Siraj Akbar
Jeopardizing their future, two Baloch students from the Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences (BUITMS) sat on an unto death hunger strike in front of Quetta Press Club on Saturday to protest the admission policy at their university. While the final year examinations are scheduled to kick of after two weeks [on July 21st], the Baloch students, who claim to enjoy the support of around 400 university fellows, are also boycotting their classes besides sitting in a hunger strike camp.
Qambar Baloch, who is heading the hunger strike camp, told this writer that the purpose of the camp was to protest the admission policy of the BUITMS which aggressively believed in ‘open merit’. The Baloch students, on their part, want the open merit to be devolved at the district level so that the representation of students from all districts of the country’s largest province is equally ensured.
The admission policy statement of the university states: “Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences is an equal opportunity institution and admission in all our programs is purely on merit without any distinction of race, religion, color or ethnic origin provided the learner meets the entry requirements in various programs. However, being a public sector University, it is created to serve particular needs of the Balochistan province by virtue of its location.”
Thus, the six-year old university provides seats on open merit to 70% students of Balochistan while 30% open merit is fixed for the whole country. Around 3000 male and female students are enrolled in the university which offers courses in five faculties – Information Communication Technology (ICT), Engineering, Management Sciences, Biotechnology and informatics, and Environmental Management
“Our objection is that this policy discriminates the Baloch from attaining higher education,” whined Qambar, who elucidated that only 9% students admitted to the Spring 2008 Program of the BUITMS were Baloch. “Though 70% open merit is fixed for the entire province, 62% of the seats were grabbed by the students from Quetta city only. In and around Quetta city, the majority of population is that of non-Baloch elite from other ethnic groups.”
Qambar argued that if 70% open merit system in the admission policy was not revoked, it would deprive the 70% of Baloch districts of higher education. “Children of the elite in Quetta, where the Baloch are in minority, have access to top grammar schools and private colleges. They will, understandably, beat the students from the far-flung Baloch districts. We are not opposed to the idea of open merit. What we want is that such tests and interviews to select students on merit-basis should be conducted at district level while keeping in view the ground realities of the province,” he suggested.
Khurshid Baloch, the other companion of Qambar for the unto death hunger strike, said the admission policy, based on open-merit, at the Bolan Medical College (BMC) and the Engineering University in Khuzdar, both technical colleges just like the BUITMS, had been devolved to the districts. Therefore, such admission policy had blocked to way for students from Quetta city to grab all the seats of these universities. “If these universities are meant for the people of Balochistan, then they should give equitable representation to all the districts of Balochistan. It is unfair to keep the other districts backward. The current admission policy of the BUITMS is favoring the non-Baloch people who have the advantage of better schools and tuition of Quetta.”
He noted that the number of recognized public universities by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) was 38 in Sindh province, 36 in the Punjab, 21 in North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) but the number of public universities in the large province of the country was only five. “Even if you look at the Sindh University, it has rural and urban quota fixed for the aspiring students. Why can’t the same be applied in Balochistan?” he questioned.
The Baloch Students Organization (BSO) and the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) are also supporting the Baloch students’ demand for the change in the university admission policy. Qambar says they would continue the strike camp until a copy of the demanded notification issued by the government is handed over to them which announces the district-based open merit system at the BUITMS.
A representative of the BSO, Abdul Qayyum Baloch, announced that his organization would fully support and cooperate with the students for their demands. According to him, the very basic objective of establishing an information technology university in Balochistan was to equip the Baloch youths with technical education in order to run the Gwadar Port.
“We don’t understand why institutions are established on our name but we are deliberately denied access to them. The largest beneficiaries of the BUITMS are the non-Baloch students coming from the Punjab, NWFP and the settlers of Balochistan,” he remarked.
Mr. Baloch, who is also the president of BSO Quetta zone, said the state of education in rural Balochistan was so deplorable that students cannot speak Urdu and use computers. As a matter of fact, the government should have firstly ensured better education at the school and college level. Now that a university has been established with hefty costs, there is no justification of the government allegations that the Baloch are incompetent, he added.
The students said they hoped that the new democratic government, which had promised to resolve the problems of Balochistan, on priority basis, would take the matter into consideration.
Ahmed Shah Durrani, the director of students’ affairs at the BUITMS, was not available for comments despite repeated requests by this writer. However, another official of the University, requesting anonymity, said the Baloch students were unjustified in their demands as they were painting the whole issue as an ethnic matter. “We don’t understand why the Pashtoon students have no problems with our admission policy. Even, competent Baloch students manage to secure their seat at the university on open merit,” he said.
Happy Birthday to Me July 10, 2008
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar in Malik Siraj Akbar.Tags: Aaj Kal, Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Birthday, Divya Dugar, Jacob Cherian, Linette Marie C. Ramos, Malik Siraj Akbar, Pallavi Basu, Ruchi Sherma, Sashi Kuma, Seema Kanwal, Talha Masood
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They say a careless man’s wife is almost widow. The same applies for me. Even I was too lazy to write a few lines on my blog yesterday, the day when I turned 25. Yes, it was my birthday on July 9, 2008. Yet, it was some of my very caring friends and colleagues who made my day very beautiful with their best wishes, greeting cards, magnificent gifts and most importantly the unexpected overseas calls.
Dear all, those greetings and best wishes meant a lot to me. I know it would be too difficult for me to name all of you while expressing my gratitude to you but some names are worth mentioning.
Pallavi Basu: My cute Indian class fellow who ‘tried to call but the lines could not get connected.” Yet, Pallavi sent me an unexpectedly pleasant birthday SMS from New Delhi as soon as the clocks showed a change in the date. Pallavi, that meant a lot to me. Thanks a lot. Pallavi and I have so many interests in common. We are both crazy about politics but still can’t get much time to sit and discuss politics on a hot cup of coffee.
Talha Masood: This brother-like-friend-cum-bachpan-ka-dost of mine gave me the largest ever birthday card. Talha was so kind that he dropped the huge card at my office even a few days before the birthday because he was going to Karachi. Yet, he didn’t want to miss the occasion. For those of you, who don’t know Talha, let me mention that he has most comments on this blog to his credit.
Ruchi Sherma: Ruchi is a journalist friend working with reputed Indian news channel, CNN-IBN. An ACJ fellow, Ruchi didn’t know how much I was expecting a call from her. She rang me up from New Delhi and wished me a very happy birthday when I was working in my office on my birthday.
Jacob Cherian: The other day, I was telling my friend Bakhto [Bakhtawar] that the reason I love India is not that I am tried of Pakistan. But I love India because I made some of my best friends in that country. Regardless of the religion these friend of mine follow, something which counts a lot in Pakistan while forming relations, these fellows have a great place in my heart.
I love India due to friends like Jacob Cherian. Jay, as we call him, has been very kind to me since we started knowing each other at ACJ. I visited his home for a dinner on the eve of Christmas 2005. I met his family. They were really very forthcoming. The dinner was also attended by the ACJ chairman Sashi Kumar. That was two years back. J asked me not to tell anyone at ACJ that Mr. Kumar had also turned up for the dinner at his residence. I never disclosed that as long as I was in ACJ. Don’t know why I was asked to do so. Then, there was the other night I can’t ever forget: Jay didn’t sleep the whole night when I was coming to Pakistan after completing the ACJ course. He was there to drop me at the airport. He did.
“Hey Malik,” he said as I picked up the call at 1:45am this morning: “I know I am late. But I am not very late, am I? How many hours am I late?” I replied that it didn’t’ matter how late he was but his call was a reiteration of our friendship.
DvD: DvD stands for Divya Dugar. Who doesn’t know that, by the way? Though we have spoken on the phone many times, it was the first time I could not recognize her voice. One of the belated-wishers, Divya called me when Mazhar, my photographer, and I were going to Hazar Ganji in the outskirts of Quetta. She said she was badly pre-occupied with work the other day. Yet, this party girl had a lot to miss: “Malik, I wish “we” [perhaps she was referring to our other friend, Syna] were there for the birthday party.
Seema Kanwal: Seema works at my bureau as a staff reporter for our Urdu paper, Aaj Kal. Seema, that present was awesome. Simply the best of all.
Linette Marie C. Ramos:
Lineette, a journalist friend from the Philippines, was with us in Berlin, Germany last November. Joyce, also from the Philippines, and Linette were the stars of the one month long media training workshop on Election Reporting. She had to say this in her e-mail today:
“hey, i know i’m one day late… at least it’s only a day, you know. 
“
For me, it is not the birthday cake or birthday party which matters the most. I don’t know why but for me birthday greetings and wishes mean a lot . Each and every message touched my heart. I am among the people for whom friends mean a life.
