Pakhtun community victim of media bias. By Jan Assakzai
The Frontier Post
The annihilation of largely Pakhtun lives in Karachi's targeted killings shocked and pained many across the Pakhtun community. Others wondered how such an incident could happen in Pakistan. But in the midst of all this emotion, many also are criticising the media's coverage of the incident as intensely prejudicial against Pakhtun community.
Much criticism has come from those Pakhtuns and others who believe the recent news coverage promoted stereotypes that are endemic of a broader mis-perception of the Pakhtun community in Pakistan. "If a Pakhtun is involved in some crime, then the word 'Pakhtun/Pathan becomes the common identifier of that person," said Aslam Khattak, a second-year computer science student.
"They are calling the ones in custody now 'Pakhtun terrorists.' Initially, various media speculated that those responsible for the targeted killings were Pakhtuns, some put the blame on Hazarawals perhaps spurred by the MQM media cell. However, after some time, the body counts put the number of Pakhtuns to over 22 - so Pakhtuns could not kill their fellow Pakhtuns while riding on bikes, the favourite transportation mode of terrorists.
Aslam explained that the bias in news coverage of the targeted killings is typical of a broader misrepresentation of Pakhtuns portrayed in the media in various formats. He adds that you are left with the only impression: a sweeping indictment of people from Pakhtun community. Some time disclaimers are made in the newspapers but - in TV talk shows - hardly any current affairs programme in beginning of the show says that this is not the official position.
But that isn't enough for Liaquat Ali, s businessman in Karachi. He even questioned the newsworthiness of writing an article on media stereotypes of Pakhtuns. "Is (bias against Pakhtuns) something new?" Liaquat Ali said. "(These stereotypes are) the baseline of misrepresentation and outright lies about Pakhtuns. "We're known as terrorists, smugglers and kidnappers ... this is nothing but the baseline," he said. Another student mentioned the news coverage of the earlier bomb blasts in Lahore that at the end they turned out to be crackers. The anchor of a Karachi based News Channel said that a "Pathan" has been arrested on suspicion. Every one jumped. He should have said a suspect was arrested.
Not only did media coverage of the bombing angered some people, it also caused concern about the safety of family and friends. "My father was very worried about us leaving the house. Because of the bias in the media, there was fear of a violent reaction against all Pakhtuns in Lahore ," said Mohammad Nasir, a father of two who works in the city.
One student related an experience in a suburb of Lahore the next day of the bombing. "Me and two of my friends were going out to lunch. We went to the ATM on the corner to withdraw some money, when a man approached us," recalled Abdul Satter. "He yelled. 'It's those damn Pathans again! And you're going to pay for it!' Abdul told me over the phone. Still, the Karachi based television channel prides itself on being unbiased on coverage of such sensitive issues.
It is even strange that some time ordinary Pakhtuns are arrested just because they look like Taliban particularly in Karachi. So the police seems to draw parallels. As a result of these perceived parallels, a man was stopped several times on his way to office in Karachi and was eventually forced to return to Peshawar.
A Pakhtun social worker observed a change in the tone of media coverage once some of the suspects were determined to be non-Pakhtuns. If it was not going to be "Pakhtun terrorists," Irshad said: "Then we were willing to say (the bombers were) crazy, or nuts, or perverted mind. That wasn't the assumption when it was thought to be Pakhtun."
The coverage of suicide bombing of Shia procession in Karachi (Dec. 2009) is a good example of people's tendency to jump to conclusions when they hear things. A Talib was suspected as the suicide bomber who killed around 30 people. It was mentioned time and again that Karachi have the largest concentration of Pakhtuns than any other city. Later it turned to be the work of a Sunni extremist group. "We need to be careful before we assume guilt. We have a moral and ethical responsibility to fight against those immediate assumptions. "I understand why that may be your initial reaction, but we must as moral, ethical people, strive for the truth," Irshad added.
A national newspaper even allowed the publication of these remarks in its letter to the Editor section: "The tribal belt inhabitants are idiots of highest order". One wonders why it is OK to allow such offensive words "Idiot" to be used for maligning the whole community. Beyond incidents of hate and prejudice, there may be broader, political ramifications against Pakhtuns as a result of biased media coverage.
Currently, there is now anti-racism law in Pakistan - law that could provide some solace to the affected community. Inflammatory stereotypes of Pakhtuns also permeate the movies and other entertainment, Irshad added. Pakistani dramas openly portray Pakhtuns as watchmen or chaai walas. They also show Pakhtuns as gun totting lunatics. Just watch a drama from Peshawar or Quetta centre, you will get the impression that Pakhtuns are only violent people. "The media creates the equation that terrorism equals Pakhtuns," Nasir said.
The media in Pakistan needs to do some soul searching and find the reason: why Pakhtun community looks at the coverage of Karachi's targeted killings as supporting stereotypes, racism in Pakistan. One might be reminded of the famous words of Sir Winston Churchill: a lie gets half-way round the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. janassakzai200@gmail.com
Much criticism has come from those Pakhtuns and others who believe the recent news coverage promoted stereotypes that are endemic of a broader mis-perception of the Pakhtun community in Pakistan. "If a Pakhtun is involved in some crime, then the word 'Pakhtun/Pathan becomes the common identifier of that person," said Aslam Khattak, a second-year computer science student.
"They are calling the ones in custody now 'Pakhtun terrorists.' Initially, various media speculated that those responsible for the targeted killings were Pakhtuns, some put the blame on Hazarawals perhaps spurred by the MQM media cell. However, after some time, the body counts put the number of Pakhtuns to over 22 - so Pakhtuns could not kill their fellow Pakhtuns while riding on bikes, the favourite transportation mode of terrorists.
Aslam explained that the bias in news coverage of the targeted killings is typical of a broader misrepresentation of Pakhtuns portrayed in the media in various formats. He adds that you are left with the only impression: a sweeping indictment of people from Pakhtun community. Some time disclaimers are made in the newspapers but - in TV talk shows - hardly any current affairs programme in beginning of the show says that this is not the official position.
But that isn't enough for Liaquat Ali, s businessman in Karachi. He even questioned the newsworthiness of writing an article on media stereotypes of Pakhtuns. "Is (bias against Pakhtuns) something new?" Liaquat Ali said. "(These stereotypes are) the baseline of misrepresentation and outright lies about Pakhtuns. "We're known as terrorists, smugglers and kidnappers ... this is nothing but the baseline," he said. Another student mentioned the news coverage of the earlier bomb blasts in Lahore that at the end they turned out to be crackers. The anchor of a Karachi based News Channel said that a "Pathan" has been arrested on suspicion. Every one jumped. He should have said a suspect was arrested.
Not only did media coverage of the bombing angered some people, it also caused concern about the safety of family and friends. "My father was very worried about us leaving the house. Because of the bias in the media, there was fear of a violent reaction against all Pakhtuns in Lahore ," said Mohammad Nasir, a father of two who works in the city.
One student related an experience in a suburb of Lahore the next day of the bombing. "Me and two of my friends were going out to lunch. We went to the ATM on the corner to withdraw some money, when a man approached us," recalled Abdul Satter. "He yelled. 'It's those damn Pathans again! And you're going to pay for it!' Abdul told me over the phone. Still, the Karachi based television channel prides itself on being unbiased on coverage of such sensitive issues.
It is even strange that some time ordinary Pakhtuns are arrested just because they look like Taliban particularly in Karachi. So the police seems to draw parallels. As a result of these perceived parallels, a man was stopped several times on his way to office in Karachi and was eventually forced to return to Peshawar.
A Pakhtun social worker observed a change in the tone of media coverage once some of the suspects were determined to be non-Pakhtuns. If it was not going to be "Pakhtun terrorists," Irshad said: "Then we were willing to say (the bombers were) crazy, or nuts, or perverted mind. That wasn't the assumption when it was thought to be Pakhtun."
The coverage of suicide bombing of Shia procession in Karachi (Dec. 2009) is a good example of people's tendency to jump to conclusions when they hear things. A Talib was suspected as the suicide bomber who killed around 30 people. It was mentioned time and again that Karachi have the largest concentration of Pakhtuns than any other city. Later it turned to be the work of a Sunni extremist group. "We need to be careful before we assume guilt. We have a moral and ethical responsibility to fight against those immediate assumptions. "I understand why that may be your initial reaction, but we must as moral, ethical people, strive for the truth," Irshad added.
A national newspaper even allowed the publication of these remarks in its letter to the Editor section: "The tribal belt inhabitants are idiots of highest order". One wonders why it is OK to allow such offensive words "Idiot" to be used for maligning the whole community. Beyond incidents of hate and prejudice, there may be broader, political ramifications against Pakhtuns as a result of biased media coverage.
Currently, there is now anti-racism law in Pakistan - law that could provide some solace to the affected community. Inflammatory stereotypes of Pakhtuns also permeate the movies and other entertainment, Irshad added. Pakistani dramas openly portray Pakhtuns as watchmen or chaai walas. They also show Pakhtuns as gun totting lunatics. Just watch a drama from Peshawar or Quetta centre, you will get the impression that Pakhtuns are only violent people. "The media creates the equation that terrorism equals Pakhtuns," Nasir said.
The media in Pakistan needs to do some soul searching and find the reason: why Pakhtun community looks at the coverage of Karachi's targeted killings as supporting stereotypes, racism in Pakistan. One might be reminded of the famous words of Sir Winston Churchill: a lie gets half-way round the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. janassakzai200@gmail.com
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