tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12219873.post112823406392023619..comments2024-03-26T03:03:42.414-07:00Comments on The Glasshouse: WP Story Blacked Out in Pakistan?A Different Drumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01350929185765118924noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12219873.post-1128660385247062972005-10-06T21:46:00.000-07:002005-10-06T21:46:00.000-07:00I recommend the post of Mr. honest desi and have a...I recommend the post of Mr. honest desi and have a question for the simpletons.<BR/>Why does every news paper, including 'jabir sultan kalima-e-haque' fame daily writes 'hassas idara' and not Pakistan Army?<BR/>Times have changed and no body can implement the Ayub or Zia style censor-ships. <BR/>It is their limitation for which they are trying to claim credit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12219873.post-1128364112678304012005-10-03T11:28:00.000-07:002005-10-03T11:28:00.000-07:00Musharraf does not want Pakistanis to know he is c...Musharraf does not want Pakistanis to know he is considered a liar in Washington because he controls the Pakistani opposition by scaring them with the weight of Washington behind him. <BR/><BR/>Because Pakistanis believe Musharraf can't be removed until Washington wishes so, the illusion of full American backing serves him well. Then, he tells the Bush administration they need him because there is no alternative in Pakistan.<BR/><BR/>In the absence of a vibrant opposition, the Bush administration buys Musharraf's line notwithstanding the widely held view that Musharraf is a liar. <BR/><BR/>I feel the Pakistani press is only selectively free. It is allowed to criticize enough to make soft critics of Musharraf happy. It is privately told to behave if it highlights embarrassing facts or runs commentary that might shake the government.<BR/><BR/>What other explanation is there for the Washington Post editorial not being reported anywhere in Pakistan?<BR/><BR/>The English and Urdu language press also have different rules of engagement. The freedom of the press is a bit like the freedom enjoyed by 'The Muslim' and 'The Herald' under Zia-ul-Haq. I read somewhere that Zia used to say he didn't mind criticism by these English papers "read by diplomats and intellectuals" because it did not impact his government at all while creating the image of relative freedom.<BR/><BR/>Only Pakistanis who have shed the notion of relative freedom and relative democracy find the partial freedom of Pakistan's media offensive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12219873.post-1128354115767241672005-10-03T08:41:00.000-07:002005-10-03T08:41:00.000-07:00Dear AnonymousI agree with you. Ayaz Amir and a fe...Dear Anonymous<BR/>I agree with you. Ayaz Amir and a few others do have a pretty good go at Musharraf and his men but as any senior journalist worth his salt (i.e. integrity) will tell you that phone calls are made to editors to kill stories as well as plant them. Anyone not obeying these calls soon finds himself in extremely hot water. So in reality we have a 'sort of free' press' but no more than that. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Dear Syed,<BR/>Do you mean that Mush should be beyond norms laid down for noraml mortals or you feel that he is simply beyond redemption?A Different Drumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350929185765118924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12219873.post-1128351367697621382005-10-03T07:56:00.000-07:002005-10-03T07:56:00.000-07:00I am astonished people are weighing him with the n...I am astonished people are weighing him with the norms of morality and ethics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12219873.post-1128339710499272122005-10-03T04:41:00.000-07:002005-10-03T04:41:00.000-07:00You've got some spam comments above...Anyways, the...You've got some spam comments above...<BR/><BR/>Anyways, the press is pretty free - Ayaz Amir in the dawn just a few days back had a article bashing mushrraf to knogdome come about this very issue.<BR/>See http://www.dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/20050923.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12219873.post-1128234431677893202005-10-01T23:27:00.000-07:002005-10-01T23:27:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com