Free Media

Once Nowsherwan Adil, the famous king of Iran, was discussing a problem with his ministers. The most intelligent minister of king was also present in this meeting. Every minister forwarded his own suggestion, according to their caliber, but the most intelligent minister supported the suggestion forwarded by the kind himself.

When the meeting was over, all the other ministers said to the most intelligent minister that he supported the wrong suggestion. The most intelligent and the most unctuous minister said that if in any issue, king himself gives any suggestion always support it. This way, if the suggestion turns out to be bad, all the responsibility will lie with the king, and if it turns out great, then king will be pleased.

Most rulers don’t like the opposition to their ideas and suggestions. They like flattery. They reward the people, who praise them day and night and they blast the people, who criticize them. Normally, rulers try to control media to lengthen their rule.

But President Musharraf has this credit to his name that he hasn’t tried to suppress media. Rather, in his regime, the freedom of media is unprecedented. Number of private channels has blossomed. There are open discussions and talk shows on every channel without any check and censor.

Though there are some black incidents regarding the freedom of media, but now once again, president Musharraf has himself announced to take back the decision to check the freedom of media. Musharraf has said that media is what is the power of nation. His minister Durrani has also aired the same views. Its a very welcome sign.

Media in Pakistan can become lot better. It can even surpass the so-called liberated and independent media like CNN and Fox. The channels like CNN and Fox, all lie about the Middle East, Central America, and about terrorism. American author, Noam Chomsky has also criticized the American media in his book “Media Control.”


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