The Press Ordinance and Its Repercussions

GEO news began operating in October 2002. I distinctly remember the feeling of being rather pleasantly surprised of watching a Pakistani channel with a much better outlook, a fresh and vibrant insignia, and a raw yet professional method of news reporting opposed to the lifeless PTV broadcasts we were used to (and needless to say, we never watched).

It was a well-received change. A lot of people were skeptical about how this effort would eventually work out. Because the frame of reference audiences (in Pakistan) had mostly consisted of memories of watching Indian channels being launched; full of glamour, over-styled, hip and energetic. Compared to all that GEO was as unglamorous, wayward in its direction and lacking in luster. But one thing it was full of was promise and potential. Plus all the skepticism was also a product of years of let-downs at the hands of almost all the initiatives ever taken since Pakistan’s inception.

For the first time, audiences in Pakistan had an alternative to the state-run PTV, though it was only limited to News then.

What was witnessed by Pakistan was something most of the free world had already seen and experienced; independent media. In all fairness, most people who opposed the policies of chief of Army staff, General Pervez Musharaf, give, and should give, him this much credit, that the evolution of Pakistani electronic media owed its evolution and progress to his vision and efforts in bringing it forth. Without his endorsement, neither GEO nor the barrage of channels that launched afterwards would have existed nor found successes in the country.

But what happened on the eve of 17th November was something that has not only tarnished the General’s image and pretty much nullified all his efforts that brought this media so far ahead, it has reinforced negative notions that were ever so strong in the minds of our older generations; and have now demoralized even the youth like myself.

A youth of my age watched GEO in awe and admiration of all those journalists who were brave enough under the current circumstances to criticize the current situation in Pakistan. We were given new role models to follow. For a change, we saw people spewing out the ‘inconvenient truth’ in the face of oppressive Ordinances, threats to their livelihoods, and possibly, at the cost of their health. For a change, we saw people who weren’t giving in to the pressures at hand and kept on being morally and professionally forthright. For a change we saw people who were being sincere to the ethics of journalism, to the interests of the people and to the greater interest of the nation.

However, when GEO News went off air on 16th November, I remember two different things. One was utter disbelief while watching GEO News in the dying minutes of its last broadcast, and eventually the screen going blank. And one was submission to a remark my aunt made when she saw that screen, ‘This is what happens to people who speak the truth, they simply fall over or are knocked over!’

For her it might have been a very meaningless comment as she was laughing the very next minute. For me, it was a statement, backed with overwhelming evidence right in front of me, which almost shattered and literally jolted my faith in righteousness and truthfulness.

This group of people was probably the only one who had enough decency to stand up to an arrogant and stubborn man whose madness had forced almost all his opponents into submitting either to his will or had them shunned or silenced if they persisted with opposition.

General Musharaf has exceeded all bounds, and his hunger for power has shown disregard for all limits or bounds. A lot of people might argue, that he is a mere instrument being used by ‘foreign powers’, but that’s a separate debate altogether. Ever since Novmber 3rd, when the marshal law cum emergency was declared; each passing day has brought about more bizarre and shocking news surpassing the one before it.

Imprisoning political activists (and predictably those who were without popular support from the imperial powers), limiting the activities of social workers, imposing ridiculously oppressive ordinances on the media, cutting off the masses from their right to know what’s prevalent in the headlines; in short, crucifying anyone and almost everyone who had a different opinion.

It was situation which pretty much resonated with the post 9-11 American philosophy to it, albeit in a different context. Either you were with the Government or against them.

GEO News had been heavily criticized by the dictator for misusing its influence, for ‘misguiding’ the masses and ‘sensationalizing’ the news to defame the government. The dictator unleashed his wrath on the channel, though he never directly referred the channel. As a result of that implied reference, the whole media fraternity bore the brunt of his actions. There is one question though; how can the same media become the villain which before all this was supporting the dictator in pushing forth in his various moves, such as changes in the Hudood Ordinance, and his campaign for ‘moderated Islam’, the same media which garnered invaluable and unparalleled support in the wake of the 8th October Earthquake in 2005? Only because they opted to maintain the same impartiality while reporting events that were damaging his position in the country, that is how…

This is the point where GEO News and its people showed their strength of character and integrity; by standing up to the injustice and voicing its opposition even more audaciously.

The dictator banned the GEO News broadcast and all its other network of channels throughout Pakistan. But he failed nonetheless, as the group used its facilities outside Pakistan to continue its operations.

But this arrogant, drunk on power, and obsessed dictator finally got through to the local authorities where Geo News and ARY One World, the only two channels which did not abide by his sorry-excuse-for-reform of an Ordinance, the Press Ordinance of November 3rd. He pressurized the UAE authorities to have these channels shut down…

This is a point in time, where we shouldn’t argue what strategy or what tactics this man is employing and whether or not they’re the politically correct ones. Neither does the argument a lot of supporters offer that whatever he is doing is for the better ‘interests’ of the nation and for it’s safety hold true. For that matter, all that he’s done in the recent past has done nothing but create even more strife between the people and the authorities thus harming the so-called ‘interests’ even more. One thing should always be kept in mind, that you cannot protect a society or a nation by shielding it from the truth and masking the grim reality.

This is a time when we should realize how this one decision (and in retrospect, all the decisions taken after 3rd November) is going to impact us as a society.

One impact is that after this recent blow, General Musharraf has thrown Pakistan into the same situation his predecessors had created when he came into power in 1999. In fact, it has become much worse. There is no ‘free’ media, no opposition, and no accountability for those in power. Ironically, these are the same vices he promised to rid the society of!

He has reinforced the age-old notion that ‘He who is powerful, runs the show’.

But the biggest impact is that he has devastated the morale of a whole nation in one shocking and dreadful move. He has single-handedly killed off thousands, if not millions, of sincere ambitions to pursue honest and truthful professionalism of aspiring journalists and media professionals. He has once again proved, either by coincidence or method; that the truth will always create problems, but won’t bring any constructive changes for those who believe in it and stand for it…

He has made his point clearly and emphatically that anyone who wishes to play cricket, entertain, play music, write stories, work in IT, work as bankers, or run a business are fit to survive and prosper; but those who will try to reconstruct or try to instill any life into this paralyzed system will be crucified!

There is a famous saying, that there is always light at the end of the tunnel… Unfortunately, right now, the dictator has tried to blindfold everyone and block out that light; and yesterday he succeeded in blocking out even that last beam of light we saw at the end of that bombarded tunnel.

At this time, the only left to do is pray to God, that this sacrifice given by a select few in the brave media fraternity bears results. History has been made yesterday when, for the first time, the media has suffered a harsh setback such as the ones GEO and ARY One World have suffered. But history more history is yet to be made, when these very channels would be broadcasting the news of this dictator being overthrown. The only thing that we need to have is faith in truth… whether it is shown vocally like the Pakistani media did, or at least have it in our hearts.