Rise of Rogue Radio

Can Pakistan become Nepal? That is the crucial question.(Ayaz Amir in Dawn)

I would say YES -- Pakistan can become Nepal -- except for one difference -- Nepal will have constitutional monarchy -- Pakistanwill have an unconstitutional monarchy....

Re: # 7
I guess both; to me, it is like handing over a live grenade to a mentally retarded or rather emotionally unbalanced person.

Like the FM radio, informative, revealing article. Very recently, there was this FM radio war in the Bara region between some Sufi and deobandi group which eventually led to open hostilities and probably 35 people were killed. Do we blame the medium or the people?

this was first printed in The News and should have been attributed as such

Every ideology needs a medium/tools to propagate itself to the masses. FM radio is one such tool. It may increase the reach of an ideology, but its job is to merely relay the message. Curbing the tools/medium may work in the short term, but it is more like applying band-aid on a gangrenous wound. In the long term, it is the ideology that must be tempered if Pakistan is to come out of the vice-like grip of fundamentalism.

Re: # 2
nhk;
yes, debate and more media choices is good to filter religious rages, at the same time media monopoly of seminaries, that too through illegal means, may further complicate matters with regard to (mis) leading people and accentuating miseries of the common folks.

``Best solution of illegal FM radio stations is to reduce the price of radio license so that people who want to start and maintain radio stations can easily do it. After that, it is simply a civilized fight for the hearts and mind of listening people.``(hassann)

not well said -- Ismail Khan is right -- more apt -- Worst solution of illegal FM radio at 80% clearance price -- will be a useless tool made for only uncivilized street brawl for the Cruel Hearts and Freaky Minds of the Jihad afflicted deaf people....from that four letter word state od Pakistan called NWFP-- a godforsaken place where:

....``television sets and video shops were smashed, music and videocassettes were burned, and barbers were forced not to shave men`s beards. In such a rich mix of intolerance and bigotry the sudden rise of FM radio is a conspicuous (ominous) development.

Everyone knows that NWFP...........served as, and has paid the cost of, being the launching pad of the Afghan war``(Ismail Khan)

Ismail Khan Sahib -- may be a Freaky place like NWFP deserves a FM (Freaky Muslim) radio....

Ismail

Intersting information.

Hassann (# 1) has a valid point. Let this War of words go on on the FM.

People will choose - and they will eventually choose the Right.

Don`t we quickly switch over to `Fashion & Leisure` channel the moment we see a Mulla on TV.

nhk

Best solution of illegal FM radio stations is to reduce the price of radio license so that people who want to start and maintain radio stations can easily do it. After that, it is simply a civilized fight for the hearts and mind of listening people.

Another reason of illegal FM radios may be the lack of safety. People do not want to be killed by intolerant bigots who may be offended. So they try keep their location secret.

To me it is a very good sign that people are finding a medium to express their opinion through radio. After the intial burst of enthusiam, gradually the dust will settle down.
People will certainly benefit from listening to wide variety of ideas. Slowly they will be able to to sift truth from lies.

The surviving stations would be the one that are better managed and provide a good service to the people

In my opinion, if it is a battle of ideas then the truth always prevails. However if it is a battle for the power by hook and crook then ruthless people always win.


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