Indian media ranking
THOUGH India calls itself the world’s biggest democracy, the fact that Reporters Without Borders has placed the country below Pakistan where press freedom is concerned says a lot about the Indian media’s true state of affairs after nearly a decade of Narendra Modi’s rule. As per the RSF’s 2023 World Press Freedom Index, India stood at 161 out of 180 countries, while Pakistan came in at 150 (an improvement over last year’s ranking). These are not enviable statistics for either country, but the Indian propaganda machine’s claims about commitment to democracy lie exposed by the RSF ranking. The fact is that in India, a compliant, corporatized mainstream media has worked diligently to project the BJP/Hindutva narrative, while those brave media persons and outlets that prioritise truth-telling over serving the rulers are hounded by the state. Of particular concern is the fact that powerful business conglomerates with close ties to the ruling party have acquired most mainstream media outlets, ensuring that the ‘patriotic’ narrative muscles out alternative voices. Moreover, the RSF report notes that critical voices face “horrific harassment campaigns”, which has led to self-censorship. As some media watchers have noted, much of the mainstream press in India has transformed into ‘godi media’, indicating the close, unhealthy relationship between these media outlets and India’s ruling party.
The debilitating effects on society of this bonhomie between corporate media and the right-wing government is quite obvious. Screaming anchors often rail against Pakistan, while India’s Muslims are, at best, treated as a troublesome minority, and at worst are demonised and accused of sympathising with terrorists. These destructive narratives propelled by the unquestioning media inflame communal tensions, and can abet anti-Muslim violence. For example, the demolition of Muslim homes by the state has been celebrated by media outlets, while many critical journalists — Muslim and non-Muslim — have been hauled up and charged under the sedition law. Even established foreign media outlets have not been spared the onslaught. For instance, earlier this year, the BBC offices in India were raided after the UK’s public broadcaster released a documentary examining Mr Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat anti-Muslim pogrom. The message is clear: anyone who fails to toe the line will face the wrath of the state. That may be the way things are done in authoritarian states, but countries calling themselves democracies should certainly not be resorting to such draconian tactics.
Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2023
No end to leaks
IN the season of unreason that is politics today, one may be sure that at every turn principle will be sacrificed at the altar of expediency. So it seems to be with the recent audio leak pertaining to the distribution of PTI nomination tickets in Punjab which appeared to feature the son of a former chief justice of Pakistan.
In it, he is seemingly heard demanding a reward for his father’s “hard work” to ensure that the individual at the other end, said to be Abuzar Chaddhar, obtained a ticket. In a phone conversation with another man, identified as Mian Uzair, the former judge’s son refers to the ticket aspirant and tells him to “take no less than 120”.
On Wednesday, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf formed a 10-member parliamentary team to examine the leaked audio with the assistance of any investigative agency deemed relevant.
The ongoing audio leaks saga has been edifying in various ways. It has exposed pretensions of probity on the part of some influential personalities, as well as the manner in which public opinion is manipulated through disinformation.
Some of the leaked conversations have compromised the reputations of those who must be above reproach. Certainly, where the audio clips appear to indicate a breaking of the law or a violation of one’s oath, an investigation is warranted.
If confirmed to be fact, then appropriate sanctions or, at the very least, public censure is in order; if proven to be doctored, they must be discredited as such.
However, the steady drip-drip of leaks has also laid bare the brazen abuse of power by those conducting such surveillance and the willingness of the political elite to go along with the underhand tactic so long as it serves their ends.
There is no outrage on the part of those currently ‘in favour’ over the fact that private conversations are being recorded and deployed for political gain — only exultation at the other side being caught with their hand in the cookie jar — although they themselves were recently at the receiving end. Even the Prime Minister Office, as we saw not long ago, is not considered out of bounds.
It is a remarkably short-sighted approach by the political leadership as a whole. Do they not realise that these leaks only strengthen the hand of unelected forces while undermining civilians?
When the tables are turned — and going by the history of this country, that is bound to happen at some point — their private conversations too will be made available for general consumption.
Neither side wins in this situation; the only victors are those releasing choice bits of conversation into the public domain to control the political landscape. It is high time an investigation homed in on the culprits behind the leaks.
Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2023
Winning the series
THIS time Babar Azam’s Pakistan ensured they didn’t repeat the same mistake. Having let a 2-0 lead slip and settling for a 2-2 draw in the preceding Twenty20 International series, Pakistan didn’t let New Zealand off the hook in their five-match One-Day International rubber. Sparkling centuries by Fakhar Zaman in each of the first two matches in Rawalpindi had seen Pakistan gain ascendancy. They turned it into supremacy, winning the third game in Karachi. Fakhar couldn’t get his fourth century in a row — he had also got one in the last game of the series earlier this year which New Zealand won — but his opening partner Imam-ul-Haq made 90 with captain Babar notching his second straight half-century. The performances, especially in batting, were a shot in the arm for Pakistan ahead of this year’s ODI World Cup. Anything less against a New Zealand side deprived of their top players due to the Indian Premier League would have raised questions regarding the team’s readiness for the game’s showpiece tournament in India.
Some things are becoming clear in the run-up to the World Cup. The left-handed opening duo of Fakhar and Imam has been confident. Babar at one-drop offers further stability but the fourth spot is still up for grabs with neither Shan Masood, who played the first ODI or Abdullah Shafique, who featured in the next two, able to seize the opportunity. Mohammad Rizwan has expressed his unhappiness at coming in at five but he’s been a steady hand at that position, guiding Pakistan to victory in each of the first two matches. The pacers have been among the wickets, with Naseem Shah impressing with his economy. The spinners haven’t been as prolific in picking wickets but twice Pakistan successfully chased down targets before defending their score in the third match. With the series already in the bag, the last two matches offer the team a chance to remove their deficiencies.
Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2023