PTI – Countering the Media Warfare

 PTI – Countering the Media Warfare

The private media truly emerged in Pakistan in the early part of the last decade and changed the whole dynamics of the Pakistani politics. The media now plays a very critical role in shaping the public opinion in Pakistan and hence it is beyond any doubt that any organization that has to control the public perception needs a media outlet on its side.

Historically, governments have used state advertising funds to control the media outlets in Pakistan and ironically PML-N emerges as the undisputed champion of the game surpassing the dictatorial government of Musharraf. However, the people of Pakistan have a very short memory and hence let the same politicians take advantage of it. Check out this link to see how PML-N tried to manipulate the media in its favor in the last few years of their government.

However, in the last decade and a half, they have learned to play the same trick but in a totally different manner. Now they have started using their money and political influence to buy the media channels altogether. In the last two years, we have witnessed intense media warfare against PTI. The Rivals of Change i.e PML-N and PPP have tried their level best and played all the cards up their sleeves to ensure PTI never gets any positive coverage in the media.  The minor incidents of scuffles taking place in the intra party elections were given more coverage than the fact that it is first of its kind true intra party elections held by any political party in Pakistan. Even in 2012, few of the media outlets quoted anonymous sources to create doubts that Imran Khan will ever hold the intra party elections. I wonder if the same media outlet will ever come out in public to take back its words and retract the story based on “Anonymous inside sources”. The use of word “anonymous insider sources” always reminds me of the series of false stories on Iraq WMD program that appeared in 2001 and 2002 in the world famous New York Times that resulted in shaping the public opinion in favor of Iraq War. However, the same insider source later on proved to be the biggest liar with his own vested interest.

The extensive media war that has been initiated against Imran Khan led PTI to successfully counter it till date by the Shaheens of PTI, who adopted innovative platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and web radio channels. PTI was the first party in Pakistan to come up with its own Facebook page and the success of its Facebook channel forced PML-N to hire its own media team to manage the Facebook page. The latest series of paid advertisements appearing in various media channels have also given the opportunity to PTI to counter the negative propaganda against it. However, the Rivals of Change are using the state funds to buy few of the most expensive slots on the channels to project their personal and party achievements. This in itself is a gross violation of the basic ethics and etiquettes.

The media coverage of one of the biggest Jalsa in the history of Peshawar organized by PTI on 10^th of March 2013 was disappointing compared to the coverage it gave to the much small gathering of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif in Mardan with the support of in power ANP government. Mardan is the hub of ANP, a formal ally of PML-N while Peshawar is the provincial capital where PML-N, PPP and ANP have traditionally been winning the elections. Holding such a huge Jalsa in such city required much more media coverage. The 23^rdMarch, 2013 Rally in Lahore tomorrow will change the history of the country and it would be a litmus test of the independence of our media. In case the same treatment is meted out to PTI, it would be high time for the Shaheens of PTI to come up with their own TV channels to propagate its true vision and show the reality to the masses. The Rivals of Change and Proponents of Oppression and Freedom will never want PTI to come in power and shatter their family owned political dynasties.