اِک فسانہ زندگی

My boss has stopped me from reporting on minorities’ rights, when I told him that I was going to voice opinion of minorities leaders on two much talked-about and little-published cases in the country –one alleged abduction of Hindu girl in Sindh and second public riots against Christians in Punjab. But my boss says reporting on these issues would incite violence –probably fanning Hindu Muslim hatred –and might draw strong reaction from so called “Islamists”. I know he is a professional journalist and understands that I was tempted to report on this issue by very basic principle of journalism: balanced coverage of each event. But he is responsible to safeguard interests of our media organization and this responsibility invokes “self-censorship”. It does come into action when there is an issue linked to religion because prosecuting someone on blasphemy laws is easiest thing to do in Islamic Republic of Pakistan. And as I write these lines, private run Aaj Television is airing live a debate on alleged kidnapping of Hindu girl Sapna from her home in interior Sindh. Sapna has already made a televised statement saying she left her home to marry the man of her own choice and embraced Islam. But Hindu leaders says she was forced into making such statement and converting to Islam “as any girl after being kidnapped and held for so many days can be broken to make any remarks.” The Aaj TV debate has drawn same reaction as my boss had predicted. There are many people making calls to live programme and registering their annoyance on airing the issue. Most of them believed that Sapna case had more to do with love and little to minorities’ rights. Although, there were some other callers, mainly Hindu, who said kidnapping of Hindu girls in Sindh province continues on wide scale, the host of programme seemed attempting to suggest that alleged Sapna kidnapping was an issue of law & order as Muslim women face almost same situation. Well…say he is right to some extend can we deny that Islam has vigorously emphasized on protection of minority right? Then why voicing minorities opinion is a taboo? And when you air or report something like that you fear a backfire? There were some reports that a Hindu family was manhandled and arrested in of NWFP villages after Holy Quran was recovered from a field near their house and they were allege for desecration of the holy book. Have you got any evidence that it was their act? Develop personal grudge against someone and charge him/her with blasphemy –easiest way to serve your vested interests when opponent is a non-Muslim. And rest assure nobody would dare to favour “the blasphemer,” even if someone does he would risk his life Disclaimer: Writer is a practicing Muslim and holds Pakistani Nationality

The Urdu website of the BBC Sunday carried two stories on President Musharrafs’s US visit; both of them really terrorized me and I am mulling over a possible lawsuit against all of those Pakistanis working with a “foreign” organization to “tarnish” the image of our beloved country. I have strong objections to the way BBCURDU.COM adopted for its reporting on Musharraf’s visit, it must took cue from Pakistani newspapers, which reported President remarks, on rape cases, in very “responsible” manner, placing them on inner-pages as their publication on front-pages might incite anti-government sentiments.

Most of you know that last week US daily Washington Post, “misquoted” President Musharraf saying that rape in Pakistan was a moneymaking concern and if you want to become a millionaire “get yourself raped”. See the difference! BBC people flashed these remarks on their website but Pakistani media was “responsible enough” to attach little importance with them. And when Canadian Prime Minister Paul Morton urged Musharraf to make apologize, again I found a 200 words story on probably the second-last page of Daily Times, while BBC men tried to highlight it as “big development”.

On Sunday, again BBC took “irresponsible stand” and quoted Mr. President saying he can speak louder than the NGOs voicing protest on rape cases in Pakistan. “He [the President] warned NGOs that ‘I am a soldier and know the art of war, I would fight you and if you cry I can cry louder than you,” the BBC reported.

Well…I m waiting for Monday newspapers, which have dispatched their senior correspondents to cover the presidential visit, to know that what president actually said. I believe the President is again misquoted and “senior correspondents” would relieve me of worries, assuring that “sab acha hay” (every things is fine). The BBC can also be accused of “insensitivity” for its report on Musharraf’s address to Jewish Congress (JC). It quoted Jack Rosen, a member of JC saying that a Jewish delegation quietly visited Islamabad in May this year.

Well… BBC guys you really don’t know how much embarrassment it can bring to Pakistani government, it might “instabilize” the country as opposition is already poising to launch an anti-government movement. I m sure Pakistan’s free and independent media would take a responsible position while reporting the event.

The post was not proof read , pardon for any mistake