Freedom of Expression

If I am not mistaken, the author proposes that the pakistani media --which succeeded in getting under the skin of a military dictator and his coterie of self-interested robber-barons in govt-- was not really free because all they ever put out on air were: senior journalists, defense analysts, retired generals, civil-society leaders, human-right activists, intellectuals, politicians, retired judges, lawyers, op/ed men and so on and so forth.

I would say that the Pakistani media, for the last few years was a breath of fresh air, when compared to media elsewhere in the world. The media in the west is impotent and banal, to say the least. Nothing makes it to the mainstream unless it's cleared by their respective govt's. It is a sham. A farce. Before Nov. 3rd, Pakistani media was vibrant, diverse and learning fast about it's duties and responsibilities. Investigative journalism was being done all over the place and corruption was being unearthed. Was the author really watching ?.

These much celebrated, venerated and highly paid media anchors (prostitutes for their respective Govt's) in the west could learn a thing or two about truth and principles from Talat Hussain (of Aaj TV), who refuses to go on air with strings attached.

Pakistani media was the greatest before Nov. 3rd and inshallah, will be, once again.

Stupid article. These are the sort of articles that show that some us still want to live in retarded societies. Mr. Yasir, the media was not free but hardly for reasons you have mentioned. They treated the army like a golden cattel and never openly cricised there non-defense activities. If anything some of the media men / organizations were (and still are) in the pocket of the ISI. Do you know that the owner of WorldCall Telecommunications Group Ltd. (the Business Plus channel) Salman Taseer and the pro-government dim-wit anchor Mubashar Lucman have made it into the care-taker set-up.

Too late for colonial army to salvage it from the rising tide of armed struggle. If there is another suicide attack on armed forces then the prediction is that Pakistan needs new National People Army. If no suicide attack within a year then army need to work hard to restore its all time low status to rob the poor people. But what is next.
In 1960's army robbed mainly Bengalis
1970s After surrender in 1971 it took them 5 years to reconquer Islamabad.
80s was the boom decade for drug guns and Afghan Jihad.
90s was yet another boom decade for nukes selling
2000 was selling AlQaeda, Taliban self created fear.

What's next. Keep an eye on your women Pakistanis. They are the next on sale inventory.

Today the Samson of Pakistan -- the Mighty Musharraf has lost the lock of his hair to Kiyani -- and the process of de-Musharrafization of Pakistan has already begun. The pillars of presidency have started to shake around Samson's head.

Here is how:

"ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: A group of retired senior officers of the armed forces, including two former air force chiefs, one naval chief, six lieutenant generals and four major generals, urged Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday not only to quit the post of Chief of the Army Staff but to also step down as head of state.

They urged Gen Musharraf to restore the Constitution and revoke the PCO, pointing out that the apex court had asked him to lift emergency.

They called upon him to restore the pre-emergency situation, reinstate the pre-PCO judiciary, withdraw media curbs and release political detainees.

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A joint statement recalled that Gen Musharraf had publicly admitted in a BBC interview that he committed a constitutionally illegal act on Nov 3, when he imposed ‘martial law’ and issued a PCO in his capacity as the COAS, thus losing all moral and legal authority to retain the positions he holds.
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They said it was also bringing the armed forces into disrepute.

The statement bears the signatures of retired Air Marshal Noor Khan, Admiral Fasih Bokhari, Air Chief Marshal Pervez Mehdi Qureshi, Air Vice-Marshal Abbas Mirza, Lt-Gen Talat Masood, Lt-Gen Asad Durrani, Lt-Gen Ali Kuli Khan, Lt-Gen Naeem Akbar, Lt-Gen Jamshed Gulzar Kiani, Lt-Gen Ghulam Mustafa, Maj-Gen Saeed Ahmad Wahla, Maj-Gen Rizwan Qureshi, Maj-Gen Pervez Akmal, Maj-Gen Ziaullah Khan, Air Commodore Aurengzeb Azim, Brig Shaukat Qadir, Col Ahsan Siddiqui, Capt Naeem Sarfaraz, Capt Safir Mallal and Commander Mumtaz Fazal Naqshbandi.(DAWN)

The Baton is gone -- the Banter is in -- now that Gen. Musharraf's lock of hair is gone -- he has become the lowly civilian politician -- 'Mr. Musharraf' of Pakistan -- the Generals have already started to treat him with the same deserving contempt that he treated the civilians when he WAS a General -- in keeping with the 60 year old military culture of Pakistan.

And what a timing!

Now -- as a civilian president Musharraf has to take the following steps -- dictated by the US, UA, UN, Pakistan opposition -- and the Pakistan army itself! -- end emergency within days -- restore the original Supreme Court - reinstate the deposed SC judges -- with the understanding that the reinstated judges will let him stay but only as the figurehead President -- with the full and complete restoration of the 1973 Constitution -- reinstating the parliamentary form of governance -- thus reversing all the accumulative illegal unconstitutional acts of commission and omission that the autocratic general committed during the past 8 years for his personal grab of power -- including the most recent and the most brazen illegitimate PCO.

Freedom means "Islamic Submission".

Men are free only when they "submit" to the will of Islam.

So press can speak - but only to the extent what Islam allows you to!!

Can the press dare to say anything against Khalifas, mullahs and Shariat??