Our media has gained its independence but I think that they need to learn their limitations; also it should learn its responsibilities dutifully and maturely. One of the major obligations of the media is to educate the people, apart from providing them the latest information and news. Presently our electronic and print media seem to be more concerned about their ratings and increased circulation rather than their obligation towards nation building. Catchy sensational news, conflicts between the institutions, crime, rape, lawlessness, terrorism and other negativity of the sorts take precedence over good deeds and achievements of the people which are either not reflected nor given any importance.
For example, there was no mention of the three students of a Grammar School of Lahore who returned victorious from Delhi after winning all the prizes in an English debate competition there. Similarly, though sad yet a very important event from the national cohesion and unity point of view was ignored by the media. On Muharram 7 about 47 people lost their lives in a bomb explosion at Dhok Syddaan, Rawalpindi. Media reported the bomb explosion but not what happened afterwards. While most of the dead were taken to the surrounding villages for burial, a joint mass funeral prayer was held for remaining 17 dead at the site of the explosion at Dhok Syddaan.
Among these 17 martyrs there were Shias and Sunnis and the relatives of all these deceased unanimously agreed to hold a single joint prayer for them led by a single imam. What a momentous and significant occasion it was where rows after rows of Sunnis and Shia were offering the prayers standing shoulder to shoulder together. Some with folded arms and others with open arms! What a wonderful sight it presented depicting the national unity and sectarian harmony that our media missed to highlight. It would have certainly sent a strong message to our adversaries that nothing can divide us, not even the bombs as a nation.
Col. Riaz Jafri (R),
Rawalpindi, December 4.