How Trolls are confounding the Shia Rights Discourse
by Abdul Majeed An article recently published in a notorious blog went on to criticize The Friday Times, Raza Rumi, Saleem Javed, Khaled Ahmad and Ali Chishti,because they dared to use the word “sectarian killings” instead of “Shia genocide” which is the term favored by the author of that post. The article also posited that there is a systemic genocide committed against Shias and that the #DeepState is somehow promoting it. The author did not specify exactly what benefit the #DeepState gets if they are actually complicit, when all it does is to actually compromise and damage its own writ and control. The article wanted us to believe that “Sectarian Violence/Genocide” is being “mis-represented” as a Proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The article mentioned the plight of the Hazara … Read entire article »
Filed under: Al Qaeda, Army, baluchistan, Citizens, Democracy, Iran, Islam, Media, Pakistan, quetta, Religion, Society, Taliban, Uncategorized, USA
Disaster Porn and Pakistani media
by Ali Ahsan First of all, my apologies for using an ‘objectionable word’ in the title of my piece given how some 15 year old is already on a self-crusade to note down every single ‘vulgar’ website there is, and try to get the PTA to ban them all for ‘protecting our youth’. Never mind the mental masturbation, but an adult website is the last worry we should have in Pakistan when there are more vulgar and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Citizens, drama, Fiction, human rights, Identity, Islamabad, journalism, Media, Pakistan, Regulatory Affairs, Society
The Inside Story of the Doctors Movement
by Anonymous The first recorded protest by students in Punjab was in 1905 when students from King Edward Medical College, led by Dr. Satya Paul protested against the discrimination being faced by the students (Page 21, Pakistan Main Tulaba Tehreek, Professor Aziz uddin Ahmed). The first proper National Student Body was founded by yet another medical student, Dr. Sarwar from Dow Medical College, Karachi. Dr. Sarwar formed Pakistan’s first student union, the Democratic Students Federation (DSF). … Read entire article »
Filed under: Democracy, Doctors, human rights, Judiciary, lawyers movement, Media, movements, Pakistan, Uncategorized
Interview: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, the First Pakistani Oscar Nominee
by Nadia Rasul Visual storyteller and Academy Award nominee Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy spoke to Asia Blog recently about the strong tradition of storytelling in Pakistan, the need for spreading awareness and generating dialogue about critical social issues in the country, the impact of digital media technologies on her work and what an Oscar nomination means to her. Chinoy is the first Pakistani to be nominated for an Academy Award for her film Saving Face. Her film, which … Read entire article »
The Lavish Wedding in Dubai…
Jang group is the largest media group in the country and in recent times its power has only increased. Its electronic arm, GEO TV, is one of the most influential television stations in Pakistan and is known to promote populist narratives according to which politicians are corrupt and operate with no accountability. Lifestyles of politicians is often targeted and any “exuberance” is projected as complete insensitivity to the plight of the suffering poor of the country. … Read entire article »
List of Journalists Given Plots
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been informed that some 1,000 journalists of Islamabad had applied for plots after the government launched new sectors in Islamabad and invited applications from the general public, government servants and others as part of a uniform policy to give plots to those who were permanently living in Islamabad and did not have any property. A two per cent quota was also fixed for Islamabad-based journalists. A high-powered committee comprising government officials and senior journalists was formed which after careful scrutiny of the applicants, had recommended names of 172 journalists who were given plots against payments. The PAC is in possession of a list of 172 journalists who were given plots in the federal capital in line with their two per cent quota in G-13 and G-14 sectors … Read entire article »
Filed under: journalism, Justice, Media, Uncategorized
Extinguished hope
By Ahsan Kureshi A friend, who shares my ‘liberal’ perspective on almost all things, inquired why I was surprised on what had happened. ‘Shouldn’t we be used to all this?’ His question got me thinking. Are we actually so drowned in the wetsand of fanaticism that the call of an auction of the ‘Holy weapon of Qadri’ was not even a head-turner? Are we bent upon staying fearful and oblivious to all that we deem as absurd? Is a debate on the said topic too much to ask for? Too volatile of a question with a ‘playing-with-a-knife’ consequence? Indeed and sadly yes; atleast, that’s what it seems. What saddens me today the most is the biases of the pioneers of the ‘freedom-of-speech’ manifesto, the media. The morning newspaper (5th Jan) that greeted me today, … Read entire article »
Filed under: liberal Pakistan, Media, Opinion, Terrorism
Fabrication galore: Nadeem Ul Haque and the nukes controversy
Ahmad Rafay Alam ‘s exclusive piece for Pak Tea House. I stopped writing for The News after their attacks against Asma Jehangir during the run-up the Supreme Court Bar elections in 2010. I knew The News catered to every constituency – from the sublime to the ridiculous. It has to. It’s in business, after all. But what they tried to do with Asma was reckless and unforgivable. There are plenty other papers out there, I thought to myself, why be associated with this one. I have not regretted my decision. Last week, I saw the same ugly underside of the paper’s editorial policies when Ahmad Noorani tried to uncover a scandal that wasn’t there. Noorani, who is known to call helpless interviewees late at night and record their conversations, made headlines some … Read entire article »
Pakistani Media: Misinformation and manipulation
The purpose of the media is an easy one to understand. The dissemination of factual information on issue relevant to the citizenry. This entails (or should entail) a research and effort to uncover the truth, as well as a responsibility to uphold principles of free speech, adequate voice (as absolute voice and impartiality is impossible) and a separation to some extent from the control of politics. Thus the media has always been imagined as a … Read entire article »
Filed under: journalism, Media, Opinion
Zardari: Made of tougher mettle
By Saria Benazir The rumors of an impending coup further perforate into the already adverse political situation in the country, following the memo gate issue. This is another incredible issue, much like the incredible memo-an unsigned paper seemingly no importance to the White House has subjugated the whole country to a farce played out by our very laudable Supreme Court and the establishment. And now this new addition furthers the attack on Pakistani democracy. The likelihood of President Asif Ali Zardari’s resignation, as stated by the American Foreign Policy blog has created a hullabaloo throughout the country, and people seem to have unquestioningly placed their convictions in that blog. The army and ISI already own Pakistan, what about the Head of State? Does the US decide the resignations of Pakistani officials as … Read entire article »
Lucman’s Latest Obsession
By Zia Ahmad Late night current affair talk shows on some TV channels have successfully taken up the task of providing entertainment to the masses. Where some rely on shameless displays of sensationalism, ranging from all out cat fights to pandering to gutter sensibilities, others have taken the high road to indulge and inform its share of viewers on the not so fine nuances of our political, strategic and policy making endeavors. Worse still is when a talkshow host with an inflated ego uses his TV show and his public persona to grind any sort of personal axe against whatsoever and whosoever that offends his limited sensibilities. Mubashir Lucman of late has been busy trying to fit the above mentioned bill. Lucman takes a wrongfully placed sense of pride in being … Read entire article »
Filed under: journalism, Media
Considering Slackistan
By Zia Ahmad Slacker: i: a person who shuns or avoids work or other obligations; ii: a person who avoids military service; iii: or an educated person who is antimaterialistic, purposeless, apathetic and usually works in a dead-end job. In 1991, the beginning of Richard Linklater’s seminal feature debut Slacker offered a clear denotation of its title. The film showcased all the variants on the meaning of the word inherently attached with the spirit of Generation X and subsequently … Read entire article »
A Double Whammy for the Cyber Army General
Slowly but surely the cyber army general, more popularly known as Zaid Hamid or “Sir” Zaid by his army of silk mustached self styled patriots or the bevy of monikers that circle around his red beret is clawing his way back to the limelight after his Yusuf Kazab association related lull. Yes, we’ll never let anyone forget of that shady association. Of late he’s been making all sorts of nasty waves by appearing on two … Read entire article »
Pakistan: 51 senior journalists condemn slander against SAFMA
Leading media professionals and editors have condemned the blatant accusations and lies of Mr Zaid Hamid against the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), a mainstream media body associated with SAARC, in the Crossfire program of the Dunya TV. In a statement the leading media personalities have taken serious exceptions to the unfounded and shameful accusations hurled by an irresponsible person against a media body of most credible journalists of the South Asian region in a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Media
On the tele-evangelist who got caught with his pants off….
The high drama of the week status can be awarded to the leaked Amir Liaqut video that went viral in a matter of hours two days ago and was as swiftly taken off youtube and a host of other sites. Thanks to the democratic and interconnected nature of the web already copies of the video are floating on the net. Café Pyala has done an excellent commentary on the situation. The updates on the post … Read entire article »
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