Javed Jabbar
Ahmed Shah
Announcement
Group photo
Book release
Mahmood Sham
Nuzaira Azam
Bouquet presentation
Visa Lines or Romance: A Dilemma for Youth
By Zafar Iqbal, PhD
Karachi, Pakistan
At the book-launching ceremony held on January 30, 2024, at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi, Mahmood Shaam, a seasoned journalist, expressed his concern about the youth prioritizing visa lines over romance. His poignant remark underscored the challenges faced by young individuals in the country due to job insecurities and an uncertain future.
Similar sentiments were echoed by other speakers discussing 'Poori Kahani: SahafioN ki Zabani,' a compilation of interviews conducted by Nuzaira Azam and Akhlaq Ahmed through Zoom technology. The book features dialogues with 15 distinguished journalists, chronicling their experiences spanning over 50 years, including instances of imprisonment, physical assault, and professional victimization.
Renowned figures from the journalism realm, including Chief guest Javed Jabbar, discussed reforms during his tenure as Information Minister. Mazhar Abbas, author of 'Selector se Selected,' succinctly summarized the current media landscape, stating, 'There is no journalism, nor journalists.' The event, moderated by Mehnaz Rahman, also featured contributions from Shehnaz Ahad, Dr Fatema Hassan, and Wasutullah Khan. Mohammad Ahmed Shah, the president of the Arts Council of Pakistan, expressed gratitude to the book writers, speakers, and the audience.
Fatema Hassan shared her experiences as an Information Officer, detailing the challenges she encountered in carrying out the task of censoring news. Her reluctance to comply with orders eventually led to her reassignment to a different department. Wasatullah Khan provided a chronological account of government-imposed regulations on media houses and journalists. Shehnaz Ahad, on the other hand, read excerpts from the book, enlightening the audience about the myriad challenges faced by journalists while fulfilling their professional responsibilities.
The book underscores challenges in journalism, coinciding with the nation's shift towards a national security state. Legitimate inquiries into government actions are often perceived as anti-national in this environment. Amidst diverse viewpoints, a prevailing sentiment emerged, emphasizing the formidable challenges journalism and journalists face in the current landscape. Media dynamics, influenced by establishment control, often result in pre-scripted news dominating media houses. Financial interests further sway these powerhouses, with monetary contributions aligning them with official narratives. Deviations from sanctioned stances incur punitive measures, forcing journalists to navigate a delicate balance, sometimes succumbing to incentives like 'lifafa' offerings.
The authors observed a journalistic divide aligning with political ideologies, notably leaning toward the left in most interviewed journalists. Despite attempts to engage with right-leaning journalists, success was limited, with Mujeebur Rahman Shaami being the sole exception.
Nuzaira Azam exposed a troubling reality as she unveiled that certain journalist participants in the project's interviews, were in the grips of imprisonment, wrestling with the harsh consequences of confinement. Among them, some endured brutal beatings, while others were subjected to tactics specifically crafted to render them unemployable. The poignant depiction on the book's cover vividly encapsulates the stark and formidable challenges these journalists bravely faced.
In this intricate media landscape, social media emerges as a double-edged sword, offering both independent reporting and potential influence from the establishment. The book, a journalistic endeavor by the Global Beat Foundation, sheds light on this complex narrative, exploring the interplay between media, power, and independence. It provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing journalism, shedding light on the intricate relationship between media, power, and independence in the current landscape.
Nuzaira Azam, a journalist with a deep interest in Urdu literature, and Akhlaq Ahmed, a veteran journalist and short story writer, conducted the interviews, facing logistical challenges due to the time differences between the USA and Pakistan. - Iqbal.zafar1509@gmail.com , 240-328-0162
