The Secular Press at Pakistan’s Throat

Albert Camus: If you do not have a dream, invent one.

 

People watched the President of All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) say these words on the television and were struck by the irony that was palpably manifested. A man who invents almost every other day a new nightmare for his nation had the cheek to talk of dreams for his people.

 

This is a strange country. Nothing alarms its rulers, nothing bothers its officials other than the pursuit of their vain desires at the expense of public money.

 

The information environment which is part of the security environment is left to saboteurs and seditious elements that have made the state vulnerable to the enemy machinations. Press, which on other nations stands for the state interests, undermines the foundational values of the nation’s genesis almost every other day and still it creates o stir. It speaks of breaking the state, merging it with India and it cause no ripple in the smug pool of our power apparatus. There seems to be nothing sacrosanct. left, neither the state nor its ideology. Everything is open to ridicule and subversion.

 

Where is the government, where is its profligate, plump bureaucracy, where are its intelligence agencies with their secret funds and powers? Where are the courts? Is their contempt higher in value than the subversion of the state and its insult? Have all of them gone deaf, blind and dumb? Desensitized and dehumanized, they stand discredited because power without love for the state and its honor is a moral equivalent of obscenity.

 

What pains us that a nation that could have become a superpower on its own strength is being cut limb to limb, it has been mercilessly left along in a paralyzed state of uncertainty and paranoia. Like an orphan it has no guardian, with none to wipe tears of blood from its fear stricken face.

 

 We urge the President and Prime Minister and high ranking officials to please stand up for Pakistan. External Security makes little sense if the internal security is not assured and the press cleansed of anti Pakistan secular elements. You are concerned about the lies, which the pres makes about your government; instead, you should be worried about what they write on Pakistan. India will not dare to fight you on the borders, it has launched its foot soldiers, disguised as intellectuals and editors in the secular press to undo Pakistan. You want to attack the enemy. Here is the material. Section 123-A PPC is your weapon. If you cant, then this nation is not going to believe in your high-sounding rhetoric of a strong and safe Pakistan.

 

Tarik Jan

October 14, 2000

The Secular Press at Pakistan’s Throat

Albert Camus: If you do not have a dream, invent one.

 

People watched the President of All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) say these words on the television and were struck by the irony that was palpably manifested. A man who invents almost every other day a new nightmare for his nation had the cheek to talk of dreams for his people.

 

This is a strange country. Nothing alarms its rulers, nothing bothers its officials other than the pursuit of their vain desires at the expense of public money.

 

The information environment which is part of the security environment is left to saboteurs and seditious elements that have made the state vulnerable to the enemy machinations. Press, which on other nations stands for the state interests, undermines the foundational values of the nation’s genesis almost every other day and still it creates o stir. It speaks of breaking the state, merging it with India and it cause no ripple in the smug pool of our power apparatus. There seems to be nothing sacrosanct. left, neither the state nor its ideology. Everything is open to ridicule and subversion.

 

Where is the government, where is its profligate, plump bureaucracy, where are its intelligence agencies with their secret funds and powers? Where are the courts? Is their contempt higher in value than the subversion of the state and its insult? Have all of them gone deaf, blind and dumb? Desensitized and dehumanized, they stand discredited because power without love for the state and its honor is a moral equivalent of obscenity.

 

What pains us that a nation that could have become a superpower on its own strength is being cut limb to limb, it has been mercilessly left along in a paralyzed state of uncertainty and paranoia. Like an orphan it has no guardian, with none to wipe tears of blood from its fear stricken face.

 

We urge the President and Prime Minister and high ranking officials to please stand up for Pakistan. External Security makes little sense if the internal security is not assured and the press cleansed of anti Pakistan secular elements. You are concerned about the lies, which the pres makes about your government; instead, you should be worried about what they write on Pakistan. India will not dare to fight you on the borders, it has launched its foot soldiers, disguised as intellectuals and editors in the secular press to undo Pakistan. You want to attack the enemy. Here is the material. Section 123-A PPC is your weapon. If you cant, then this nation is not going to believe in your high-sounding rhetoric of a strong and safe Pakistan.

 

Tarik Jan

October 14, 2000