Adil Najam
This montage of headlines from Dawn need little explanation. It represents seven headlines; one each from each of the last seven days (Nov. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2009). All except one were headlines on Dawn, and one (Nov. 13, 2009) was on the back page. The fact that the killing of 17 Pakistani soldiers will not make it to the front page of a Pakistani newspaper is itself a stern reminder of the craziness that defines our polity today!
There is little ‘news value’ in this montage. But, maybe it deserves just a moment’s silence from all of us. Maybe a moment of reflection on that which is truly important.
We post this merely as a reminder to ourselves that Pakistan remains at war. Pakistanis remain under attack. Our territory remains occupied by the enemy. The relentness of the violence can nudge the routine daily ugliness into the background and the seductiveness of tiltilating conspiracies and scandals can provide ready relief even to those whose job it is to keep reminding us of that which is truly existential for all our futures.
And so, we post this as a reminder to ourselves. Pakistan remains at war. Pakistanis continue to die. Pakistan continues to cry. Lest we forget.
Here’s something Dawn did not report:
Pakistan Taliban air video denial.
http://tinyurl.com/yk9v4wb
“Azam Tariq, a spokesman of the Tehreek e-Taliban, posted the video statement on YouTube on Monday.
The message refers to a bombing at the Islamic University in Islamabad, which the spokesman said was orchestrated to prepare the ground for a military operation in South Waziristan, a stronghold for Pakistan’s Taliban fighters.
He also said his group had no role in the bomb blast in a Peshawar market that killed at least 100 people as well as an attack in Charsada, a town located in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province.
Tariq said Taliban attacks never aimed to target civilians, but that the explosions were linked to Blackwater activities in the country.
Blackwater is a private military and security company founded in the United States.”
The Pakistani operation in South Waziristan is an ongoing activity, yet it is undermined by issues like the NRO and Sugar Crisis. Why can not the media act more responsibly and focus on the issue at hand?
Great Letter in the News today
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I cannot get the image of the young wounded soldier lying helplessly in the CMH out of my mind. His thin bullet-riddled body was covered with bandages, and his face was sad. He was 21 years old, my son’s age, and when I prayed for his recovery he asked me to pray for Pakistan. ‘Pakistan hai to hum hain’. Another young soldier said that the nation was not being told the truth. The casualties were far more than those being reported. His grievance? That precious lives were being sacrificed in a war which most political leaders said was not theirs. Not a single government representative has ever bothered to visit the troops to boost their morale.
I fail to understand that if my countrymen and women are being massacred, if my children are being killed and maimed, if my soldiers are coming home in coffins, then how is it not my war? Who are the people in the videos, cutting the throats of innocent citizens? Who was spewing poison in the FM broadcasts in Swat? Who is training young impressionable minds to blow themselves up in the name of God? Who challenged the writ of the state after the peace deal? Is Hakimullah an American, or was Baitullah a Jew, or is Fazlullah an Indian? And does it make any difference whether they are or not? For the mother who weeps over the ravaged body of her child, does the identity of the culprit matter? Were Mir Jafar or Brutus outsiders? Is it the name Taliban which is causing the problem? Are we really that stupid and naïve to fall for that argument?
I request those who are confused about whose war this is to visit the bullet-riddled soldiers, the three-year-old daughter of Pervez Masih, the recently widowed Nasreen bibi in Lal Kurti, the hospitals in Peshawar where injured children scream in agony, and the graveyards where families have buried the pieces of their loved ones. These are the victims of a split second of madness. Does it matter what these murderers call themselves? Whoever they are, and whoever is behind them, they are traitors and enemies of Pakistan and Islam. Unless we recognise the enemy within, we will end up in history books as a nation that once was.
Ghazala Minallah
Islamabad
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=2090 42
How can the media be shifting all the focus on the “sugar crisis” when the real issue is terrorism in Pakistan. There have been five suicide blasts in the last eight days in Peshawar alone, why is the “Sugar Crisis” such a big deal that its taking up the focus?
It has been noted in a survey by the Gillani Foundation that 57% of the population agrees to the fact that it has been the media which has been responsible for the political instability in the country. It can be further noted on the following link:-
http://www.gallup.com.pk/pollsshow.php?id=2009-11- 13
This issue will not till we start looking in to us. Every time we blmae other for our problem and wash our hand. Look at Molivies they bring million people on roads for their own cause but can not bring 10 people to mosque.
They do not condemend these action any way.
Allah Give them right path Ameen
My heart bleads everytime when i see all this stuff.
Capri5315 you said
“Ayub Army Rule: the only time in the history of Pakistan we had a surplus (exported more than imported), Highest economic growth, Green Revolution etc.”
but that growth only took place in West Pakistan, our half wing i.e., East Pakistan was very dissatisfied about that rule. Still growth did took place and thanks to the US aid which is soon going to change things again, hopefully.
“Oh No! I am neither supporting the Army nor Civilian governments because as far as I am concerned they are all a bunch of crooks that are only in power to plunder, loot and ship the gains to safe havens.”
so true but someone has to rule the country and usually public elected leaders are less corrupt since there is some accountability for them.
Today Pakistanis are opposed to Taliban saying they are killing innocent people and therefore are unislamic.
But about those hundreds of thousands slaughtered by Taliban in Afghnistan , when Pakistanis were strongly supporting them as they destroyed a beautiful nation.
Were the Taliban Islamic then and now because Pakistanis are dying suddenly they have become evil ?
I would so agree with this post. The past seven days bad things have happened but CONSECUTIVE seven days Dawn has to give disturbing violent headlines. What impact do you think this would have on the readers. Not a single day they could put something positive? This gives us an idea how the media has gone crazy lately and been promoting the terrorism. This is a win to the terrorists making headlines all seven days!! Nice image good job!