PAKISTAN: Interview with BBC Urdu editor Shahzeb Jillani on the Emergency
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Following is a SAJAforum interview with Shahzeb Jillani, an editor at the BBC Urdu. It was conducted by e-mail by Taimur Khan, who also contributed "PAKISTAN: Bloggers take on the Emergency" to this site. Jillani addresses the impact of the Emergency on the media in Pakistan, as well as the growth of Internet news and how this Emergency compares with previous acts of Emergency.
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SAJAforum: How have the press and private media in Pakistan had to alter their usual norms of coverage under the strictures of emergency rule?
Shahzeb Jillani: General Musharraf's controversial 'Provisional Constitution Order' targets the superior judiciary first and foremost. It's secondary target has been Pakistan's electronic media, namely the private TV news channels and FM stations broadcasting news. The general has accused them of being 'irresponsible' and spreading 'negativity'. Since Saturday when the Emergency was imposed, news TV channels have been taken off-air and a host of amendments have been made to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) rules. Effectively, these new amendments amount to tight censorship on the media to stop them from reporting on 'the war on terror', constitutional cases of paramount national importance in the courts, and criticisng the role of President Musharraf and Pakistan Army. As a result, people in Pakistan can only watch state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) and listen to Radio Pakistan.
How are these new rules being enforced?
The government took the news channels off-air by directing all the cable operators nation-wide to pull the plug. A few days ago, the authorities raided the printing press of a leading publication in Karachi to stop them from bringing out a special newspaper supplement on the fast changing political scenario.
What risks do the private press and media face if they don't follow government restrictions?
Media owners, editors and working journalists have reacted strongly to the government's measures. They are currently meeting/consulting to devise a collective response. There are reports of some journalists
being harassed and intimidated.
What role is the Internet playing for media organizations? Is it a viable way to get around the new rules?
Internet penetration in Pakistan is limited but its growing fast. Most
big cities and medium-sized towns have Internet cafes, though the
efficiency of the service could be unreliable at times. In times of a
media blackout, more and more people have reportedly turned to the
internet and radio as a news source (newspapers are of course still
there). Many of the private TV channels have been streaming their news
transmission free of charge through their websites which people in Pakistan are able to access.
BBC Urdu broadcasts news and current affairs on medium-wave and short-wave radio, and our listenership tends to jump up significantly in times such crisis. People have also been checking out our news website (www.bbcurdu.com) for instant and reliable update on a very tense and unpredictable situation.
How independent can the media be under Emergency rule?
Media has become a victim of the Emergency Rule. Loss of revenue and free speech has forced many channels to plead/lobby for the ban to be lifted immediately. Their broadcasts continue from Dubai and are only available outside Pakistan, to Pakistani audiences in the Gulf states, Britain and USA. Their presenters and reporters are highly critical of the government while at the same time desperately seeking to mend ways with the officials to get back on the air-waves.
How does the current situation compare to past periods of emergency rule or martial law, in 1958, 1969 and 1977?
Suspension/abrogation of the constitution by military rulers is not new
to Pakistan. Emergencies have been imposed in the past. What makes the
the situation different this time the judiciary, not the civilian
leadership or the parliament, appears to be the target. Extreme
extra-constitutional steps have been taken to ensure one thing: that
there is no threat to President Musharraf's leadership ambitions.
However, the desperation General Musharraf has shown in taking this
step has only weakened him in the eyes of many. His international
allies have criticized him while at home he appears to be losing
political ground to Benazir Bhutto. Lawyers and journalists are at odds
with him. Virtually everyone agrees that the sooner he lifts emergency,
doffs off his military uniform and holds free and fair elections, the
better it will be for Pakistan.
--Taimur Khan
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