Media comprises of many
forms in which
electronic, social and
print media are
important. Media plays a
vital role like creating
general opinion,
educating common public
and raising level of
awareness etc. General
public usually create
their opinion on the
basis of reviews
presented in talk shows.
Columns and news printed
in News Papers also play
key role in making
public opinion. In other
words media can be
considered as public
mind maker, which can
influence masses. The
strength of media can be
observed in United
States elections. Now,
social media is also
playing its role in
highlighting and
resolving social issues
or promoting political
parties.
Along with other
benefits, media brought
bundle of disadvantages.
The major disadvantages
are disseminating,
disinformation and
advocate specific
propaganda. It can be
done on behalf of
adversaries.
In fact, media is the
forth pillar of any
state. Countries at
large use media to
influence
internationally. On the
other hand, political
parties use media
especially electronic
media and social media
for campaigns.
Discussing more,
Pakistan’s electronic
media consisted of
Pakistan Television (PTV)
since 1964. In 1988,
first semi-government
channel was launched.
Later on, private
channels were provided
licenses to broadcast in
2002. Nowadays,
approximately 60
channels are working in
Pakistan. An autonomous
body named Pakistan
Electronic Media
Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)
was established in 2002.
This institute was made
to regulate, or improve
quality of programs
which are broadcasted.
It can issue code of
conducts to private
channels. With the
increase in number of
private channels,
competition has also
increased. To gain
public rating, channels
have started to
broadcast different type
of programs.
Writing more, in later
years, PEMRA policies
were lighten to flourish
free media in the
country. This freedom of
speech has given some
channels, a way to talk
against the country.
They started to
highlight only negative
or pessimistic view of
country. Some media
houses fell pray in the
hands of enemy. Their
news or reviews (printed
or broadcast by these
media houses) are coined
by enemies. This type of
reviews is quoted as a
proof against Pakistan
on international level.
The major target of
these negative themes is
Armed forces of
Pakistan; Inter services
Intelligence (ISI),
lately Judiciary and
patriotic parties.
Along with media houses,
some political forces
are also following the
same narrative. It is
common secret that India
is always involved in
nurturing, trapping
individual journalists
as well as media houses
of Pakistan as part of
their non-kinetic war
against us. These media
houses have started
harping to tune of
Indian secret agency and
fulfilling their agenda
indirectly. This is most
dangerous face of media.
Furthermore, on the name
of freedom of speech,
media wants freedom to
even talk against
National institutions.
In this era, war is not
fought on ground. The
war is now fought
non-kinetic, hybrid and
psychological. The
countries gain control
over the others by
trapping the common
public psychologically.
No army can win any war
against enemy without
support of common
public. If common public
start hating their
security agencies then
won war is loosen.
Today, media is used as
a war weapon against any
nation. Most of the wars
including political war
are won on the basis of
strong media campaigns.
One can observe stance
of Indian media on every
narrative. India always
uses its media against
Pakistan and gets
benefits on
international level. On
the contrary, the
channels which are sold
in the hands on India,
tune to India’s
narrative. The result of
this can be observed on
International front.
India used to defame ISI
and Pakistan army by
blaming it for support
terrorism in India.
India has no proof for
this blame but by using
media India gained
numerous benefits.
Shamefully, some
Pakistani journalists,
political leaders and
media houses are also
doing the same. Even one
statement can changed
the whole narrative of
the world.
Concluding more, media
can play its role to
strengthen any country.
On the other hand media
can also create
pessimism and play
against state. So called
liberals who are flag
bearers of unbridled
freedom of expression
want to allow media
groups to distort the
popular thinking of
Pakistani people. No
media group should be
permitted to defame any
institution of Pakistan,
nourish the agenda of
enemies, cultivate
enemy’s narrative within
the country and disturb
moral fiber of its
people. It is ethical
responsibility of each
and every media group to
remain patriot and do
not promote narrative of
the enemy. Otherwise,
government should ban
those media houses.