Pakistan: Blasphemy, blasphemy everywhere

The media circus in Pakistan has truly turned grotesque. Sensationalism and grabs for the highest ratings have reached new heights with sensibilities being offended and all decorum being chucked out the window. A certain media house has recently been in the crosshairs for everything from being accused of collaborating with the US and Israel to the biggest crime in the land: blasphemy.

The blasphemy charge really does seem to take the cake, proving that, when it comes to ‘insulting’ the religion, even things that are done in bad taste can be bracketed under the umbrella of blasphemy. An uproar is being caused by overly sensitive citizens, other media houses, ulema (clerics) and even cable operators calling for a shutdown of the private television channel run by the organisation. That is because a morning show aired by that channel is being accused of insulting the religious sentiments of the masses by showing the wedding ceremony of a local film starlet to the tune of a religious qawaali (song). One must cite here that the show and the theme were tacky, in bad taste and, yes, insensitive, but one would hesitate to call the shenanigans blasphemy.

What is happening to Pakistan? We seem to be spiralling out of control, where anyone whose name resembles that of a religious persona can allege that blasphemy has occurred if he is insulted, e.g. the police officer in Jhang, Umar, who claims lawyers protesting against him and his abuse of power were insulting his namesake! One thinks twice before saying anything now as murderers roam free, killing off blasphemy accused with impunity. To illustrate this horrifying reality, on Friday a teenager just walked into a police station in Sheikhupura and shot dead an Ahmedi man accused of blasphemy. How could this happen? Where was the police? Where was security for the accused? One finds it hard to swallow that the police were not in collusion with the killer. A full judicial investigation must be conducted as the police department cannot be trusted here.

It is against this volatile backdrop that our independent media takes on the role of judge, jury and executioner. In a race for ratings, other media channels have chastised the media house and its morning show, going all out and accusing it of blasphemy. Do these anchors not know how dangerous it is for all the employees of that channel, for the hundreds who are part of the media group under attack? In this media race, are these anchormen and women really ready to live with the consequences of playing the blasphemy card and, in effect, signing the death warrants of many? Media freedom is all well and good but where on earth is media responsibility? It is time for the blithering media to take stock and understand that we are living in dangerous times; adding fuel to the fire will only end up in all getting burned.