CFRM

Statement on the Media and Balochistan

Tuesday February 21, 2012

Citizens for Free and Responsible Media statement on the Media and Balochistan
Summary: 1. We urge the Government to facilitate dialogue by lifting curbs on the media in Balochistan. 2. We call upon the media in Pakistan to address the situation in Balochistan with sensitivity, empathy and fairness and to facilitate a civil discourse. 3. We demand a public apology from Kamran Shahid, the producers of Frontline, Express TV, Barrister Saif and APML and all channels to boycott Mr Saif until he apologises publicly for his remarks. We also urge the APML as a responsible political party to apologise for his excesses. 1. We call upon the Government to lift the curbs on the media in Balochistan and allow voices from the troubled province to reach other parts of the country. Lift the ban on The Baloch Hal, an online publication that advocates dialogue and non-violent protest. Direct the security agencies to stop preventing the circulation of the Urdu daily Tawar (headquartered in Karachi) in Balochistan, and to stop threatening journalists, news agents and newspaper sellers in Balochistan associated with the paper.

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Statement on the Media and Balochistan

2. We urge Pakistans media to lay down clear guidelines to ensure civil discourse and discussion by active, informed moderation rather than passive presence. Inflaming discussions for commercial benefit or the persistence of a lazy editorial process is a disservice to viewers, the media house itself and in this case, the Baloch people and all of Pakistan. In this regard, Express TVs talk show Frontline of Feb 15th, 2012 hosted by Kamran Shahid, merits special mention for being inflammatory and unprofessional, by allowing, even encouraging, an abusive exchange to take place that was not only unbefitting to any respectable current affairs programme, but is also likely to fan the flames of conflict in Balochistan. We unequivocally condemn the language used and the intent of one of the studio guests, Barrister Saif Ali Khan of the APML, as well as the irresponsible and unethical conduct of the host Kamran Shahid. Instead of moderating the highly charged, threatening and aggressive comments of Barrister Saif, Mr Shahid appeared to add his stamp of approval by suggesting that Mr Saif had raised some valid points. This is not the first time that Kamran Shahid has tried to discuss a serious and controversial issue with an approach which can be described as amateurish and ratings-driven at best, or incompetent and unprofessional at worst. The fact that two other guests of the show, registered their protest and exited the discussion, suggests that Mr Saifs comments cannot be explained away by the heat of the moment or justified in any way by the alleged validity of any points he raised. We believe that the trouble was deliberately stirred by the host and producer by bringing a Musharraf supporter into direct conflict with Talal Bugti who is known to hold Gen. Musharraf responsible for the murder of his father Nawab Akbar Bugti. Mr Bugtis remarks about Gen. Musharraf (as being wajib-ul-qatl or liable to be killed) cannot be condoned, but Mr Saifs response was out of proportion to the unfortunate use of words by a bereaved and angry son.

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Statement on the Media and Balochistan

We find it amazing that the Frontline producers allowed the abuse to continue, rather than cutting off the sound of Barrister Saifs microphone when it became clear that he was going to continue his abuse. Producers can also direct the host to stop such a diatribe. Instead, the camera zoomed into the faces of the host and the abusive guest in order to highlight the conflict, a tactic that appears to be designed to boost ratings. We believe that Express TV channel is a responsible part of Pakistans media landscape. Therefore, we expect the management to take due notice of this incident and initiate an impartial in-house inquiry which would hopefully culminate with a much required censure of the programmes host. 3. (a) We demand a public, unconditional apology from Kamran Shahid, from the shows producers, and from Express TV. (Kamran Shahids apology on twitter needs to be made at the forum where the transgression happened, ie. Express TV, re: @FrontlineKamran: Dear All, particularly from Baluchistan- I extend my unconditional apology, if my show has hurt your sentiment- I never meant it this way.) (b) We urge all channels to boycott Mr Saif until he apologises publicly for his remarks. We also urge the APML as a responsible political party to apologise for his excesses. This unfortunate incident provides an opportunity not only for Express TV, but for the other channels, to develop editorial and production policies that ensure that the anchor is aware of his/her responsibility to the viewing public, and indeed the organization that he or she represents, particularly in cases where guests abuse or threaten individuals, groups or organizations. The answer is not to stop raising the issue of Balochistan as suggested by Kamran Shahids tweet: @FrontlineKamran: Regardless of any thing, the issue of

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Statement on the Media and Balochistan

Baluchistan will not be raised again from the platform of Front Line with Kamran Shahid. On the contrary, we believe it is crucial now, more than ever, to raise the issues related to Balochistan, but in a sensitive and responsible manner. We are sure that given the sensitivity surrounding the coverage, debate and discussion of issues related to Balochistan, you will appreciate our concern that programming about the region should not be marred by controversy at the expense of the issues at hand. This is critical if the heartbreaking words of Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, known to be pro-Pakistan, are not to be proved true: ''Balochistan aap sey bohat dur nikal chuka hai" (Balochistan has gone very far from you), he said as he left the offending Frontline talk show of Feb 15, 2012. Sincerely, On behalf of Citizens for Free and Responsible Media (CFRM)
Aamer Aziz Saiyid, Advocate, Sindh High Court Adnan Rehmat, Executive Director Intermedia Pakistan Ali Abbas, Freelance journalist and Researcher at Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Islamabad Ali Kazmi, Student, Islamabad Ali Mustafa, Journalist, Toronto, ON, Canada Ali Taj, Hedge Fund Manager Newport Beach California Asadullah Khan Broadcast Journalist. Pakistan Ateek UrRehman, Peace Activist, Karachi, Pakistan Dr. Awab Alvi, Dentist & Social Media Activist, Karachi Beena Sarwar, journalist, Cambridge MA/Karachi, Pakistan Farhat Rabia - Customer Care Professional /TrainerKarachi Hadi Hussain, Social Researcher/ Educationist/Activist, Lahore Hira Kamal Shah, Media person and Women Empowerment activist, Jeddah KSA Hussein El-Edroos Manager Business Development & Training, Islamabad Ibrahim Sajid Malick Technologist, blogger, New York Ilmana Fasih, Gynecologist, Health Activist, Blogger, Mississauga ON, Canada/Karachi, Pakistan Dr. Kamran Iqbal. Social Entrepreneur, Karachi Kiran Nazish, Independent Journalist, Pakistan Khusro Mumtaz, Banker/Columnist, Karachi Maheen Usmani, concerned Pakistani citizen Meera Ghani, concerned citizen, Pakistan Mehreen Kasana. Student, blogger, cultural/social commentator Mohsin Sayeed, journalist, Karachi Muhammad Aftab Alam, media lawyer, Executive Director, Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Islamabad Pakistan Munnazir Aziz, Lodhran, Blogger/video producer Nabiha Meher Shaikh, teacher & writer, Lahore Nadia Fazal Jamil, Actor/Educationist/Anchor/Pakistan Nadir El-Edroos, Teacher & Blogger, London Naziha Syed Ali, Journalist, Karachi Nighat Dad, Lawyer, Lahore Noman Quadri, concerned citizen, Karachi Raza Bashir, Corporate Banking, Karachi Saba Hamid, actor, lahore Saadia Toor, Associate Professor, City University of New York Sadaf Baig, Projects Coordinator, Intermedia Pakistan Sahar Habib Ghazi, Journalist, USA/Pakistan Susan Marie, Journalist, Radio Producer, UNV, NY