No matter if you don’t have money for food and treatment; but you must have a little balance in your mobile phone just to get activated an SMS package every morning. That is what is happening in Pakistan. Sending and receiving SMSs is no more a hobby, it has become an essential part of our daily life. No doubt, there would be some positive aspects of this SMS facility but surely not on a larger scale. Here the demerits are more than the merits. These SMSs are now-a-days playing a more active and vibrant role in propagation of baseless blames and allegations. These messages disrepute not only the very sacred and sensitive institutions of Pakistan but also defame politicians, journalists, judiciary and various castes and races. In the past few months, there have been in circulation insulting messages regarding the honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan and the high-ups of the Armed forces of Pakistan. It is a common feeling among the people that such degrading and insulting messages are the handiwork of different foreign intelligence agencies working in Pakistan. The worst example of this SMS conspiracy was noticed during the last week when the case regarding Arsalan Iftikhar was in proceeding in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Suddenly there started a cyclone of messages blaming very senior and credible journalists of Pakistani print and electronic media being bribed by Malik Riaz of Behria Town. Whatever be the facts, such allegations without any proof are condemnable. It is the responsibility of the concerned authorities to take stern action against such defaming campaigns. On the other hand, it becomes the moral responsibility of all these media men to present themselves voluntarily for accountability. Gone are the days when journalists were ranked amongst those who were blessed with knowledge and courage of exposing truth but unfortunately their pockets were always empty. Now the situation is somewhat very different. Though most of the traditionally professional journalists working for different newspapers are still facing the same pangs of poverty and financial helplessness but a few ones particularly from the electronic media are leading their lives otherwise. With the help of their loud shrieking voices and with the support of their innate ability of violating all social norms and values, such media persons are always eager to ‘peal off’ the skin of everyone they desire. They never care whether the person they are targeting is a rogue or a gentleman. They adopt the same approach regarding various institutions and matters of national importance. In the recent past such people had been blaming the Pakistan army, the ISI and even the Supreme Court of Pakistan in issues like the Abbotabad Operation, the Raymond Davis case, PNS Mehran attacks , the opening of Nato supply line and so many others issues. The nation must be very much conscious and careful regarding the analysis presented by different media men working for different media groups.
Multan, June 21.
