Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

War on Terror

03 Jun 2011, NewAgeIslam.Com

Fear Stalks the Pak Media like Never Before
	Perhaps a sense of media responsibility and proportion on releasing and analysing “sensitive” information on the basis of dubious sources may help to diffuse provocation and improve the situation. Pakistan is passing through a rough transition in state- nationhood. For the first time, the media is able and free to discuss complex issues and demand accountability of public servants and representatives. The civil- military paradigm is also coming under democratic scrutiny in an unprecedented manner with parliament desperately trying to impose a measure of oversight on the armed forces. A proliferation of enquiries focused on the role of the armed forces and security agencies in many areas of security and governance is creating tension in all the organs of the state. The situation calls for restraint and responsibility in equal measure. -- Najam Sethi

Fear Stalks the Pak Media like Never Before

By Najam Sethi ACCORDING to news reports, journalist Saleem Shehzad was “lifted” in broad daylight in Islamabad on May 29, tortured, killed and dumped in a canal two days later by “unknown” assailants. The only problem with this version of events is Saleem’s last written testament to Human Rights Watch in Pakistan some months ago in which he communicated his fear that the ISI, rather than some unknown forces, had warned him off for wading into troubled waters and might exact punishment. Additionally, his wife has confirmed that a senior ISI officer was in touch with her husband and had even “interrogated” him some time ago. Saleem was a journalist of international repute. He was an expert on the chief state and non- state actors in the war on terror— Al- Qaeda, Taliban, ISI, Pakistan Army and various former jihadi- turned terrorist outfits operating in Punjab and FATA like the Jaish- e- Mohammad, Harkat- ul- Jihad- e- Islami and Lashkar- e- Tayyeba. As such, it was inevitable that his reports would displease some of them sooner or later. This is a risk every journalist takes when he/ she enters the dangerous domain of armed conflict outside the pale of law and convention. Indeed, he was briefly detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2006 but later cultivated good enough relations with them to be allowed to interview their leading lights from time to time. His insightful book on the Taliban has just been released in London and will be required reading even for experts on the subject. In recent times, his writings focused on areas of critical concern. He wrote about internal political developments in the armed forces of Pakistan, dilating on extensions, postings and transfers as well as doctrinal, strategic and tactical maneuverings. More ominously, he warned of the existence and development of Al- Qaeda- Taliban “cells” launched by Ilyas Kashmiri, a former ISI asset and current Taliban commander, in the bowels of the security services. HE ALSO highlighted a complex nexus between the ISI and elements of the Afghan Taliban in which key “wanted” commanders like Mullah Baradar, Mullah Nazir and Siraj Haqqani figured. In his latest piece — whose promised second part will never see the light of print — he criticised the leaders of the Pakistan Navy for willfully ignoring the threat from Al- Qaeda “cells” inside its rank and file, thereby exposing PNS Mehran to the May 22 attack, and pledged to expose the incompetent or fearful decision makers in all the three services responsible for the country’s security. The dye was cast. Saleem Shehzad was one of several Pakistani journalists on the calling card list of the ISI. Most have already informed their families, media employers and international watchdogs of their unsolicited interaction with the agency. A few have been roughed up already while others advised to heed the writing on the wall. These are testing times for Pakistani journalists caught in various sectarian, ethnic, Taliban and Agency crossfires. On top of that is the plunging credibility of the armed forces and their Intel Agencies in the eyes of Pakistanis and a desperate bid by them to halt the slide by silencing civilian dissent. Fear stalks Pakistan’s “free” media like never before. Unfortunately, however, the Zardari government is too weak or scared to do anything about it while the opposition is too divided to speak with any authority on the subject beyond the obligatory “press release” and prayer. Is silence an option? Where do we go from here First, all journalists who have been “advised” or threatened by any state or non- state actor to watch their tongue should lodge detailed confidential reports of such interactions with a media watchdog that enjoys their confidence. This practice will serve as a deterrent of sorts because the media watchdog will be in a position to reveal the record in the event any threat is actually carried out, as Human Rights Watch did in Saleem Shehzad’s case. Families, friends and professional colleagues may also be emboldened to collectively lodge police reports of harassment and intimidation while the judiciary is harnessed to bear witness to, and redress, all such infringements of fundamental rights. Second, the media must help create a national consensus to back the armed forces and government in the war against terrorism. There should be no two opinions that this isn’t our war. The army and Intel agencies already have their hands full, having suffered the most casualties and losses. The last thing they can stomach is a coterie of shrill, ill- informed critics at their back belittling their competence or accusing them of complicity or lack of zeal in defending national honour or sovereignty. Perhaps a sense of media responsibility and proportion on releasing and analysing “sensitive” information on the basis of dubious sources may help to diffuse provocation and improve the situation. Pakistan is passing through a rough transition in state- nationhood. For the first time, the media is able and free to discuss complex issues and demand accountability of public servants and representatives. The civil- military paradigm is also coming under democratic scrutiny in an unprecedented manner with parliament desperately trying to impose a measure of oversight on the armed forces. A proliferation of enquiries focused on the role of the armed forces and security agencies in many areas of security and governance is creating tension in all the organs of the state. The situation calls for restraint and responsibility in equal measure. Source: Mail Today URL: http://newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamWarOnTerror_1.aspx?ArticleID=4767