Though by default but the independent media and
independent judiciary are the best things that have ever happened in
this land of the pure. General (retd) Pervez Musharraf ended the
government’s monopoly on the electronic media and allowed freedom of
speech not because he believed that it is an essential ingredient of a
democratic polity.
But because he wanted to provide legitimacy to his
coup by playing on the sensitivities of the Western countries for whom
‘freedom of speech’ is almost an article of faith. This really worked
for him till he committed the blunder of putting curbs on the media, in
the wake of the lawyers’ movement initiated for the restoration of the
deposed judiciary. The media, indeed, played a significant role in
building public opinion against the actions of the dictator and his
ultimate removal from the scene.
The Chief Justice and his
colleagues, who were dismissed by Musharraf, had taken oath under PCO
and some of them were also on the bench that had legitimised the
military take over. The reaction against their dismissal was actually
the culmination of the frustration and the feelings of aversion to
Musharraf’s style of governance, which had been simmering among the
masses since long. The lawyers hijacked the episode and deftly stoked it
into a movement for an independent judiciary. The hype created by the
media won support of all segments of the society and the judges were
restored after the departure of the dictator. Thus, the independent
judiciary came into existence.
Nevertheless, these developments
have proved a blessing in disguise. The media has played a very
significant role in ensuring that the people of Pakistan fully enjoy the
fruits of their fundamental right to know and nothing about matters
pertaining to governance and public interest remains under wraps
anymore; notwithstanding the fact that in doing so, it quite often
descends into the realm of scandal mongering and violation of the
professional and ethical codes of conduct. This can be excused
considering the fact that the lid has been actually lifted prematurely
without ensuring the presence of other ingredients for freedom of
expression and the fact that this is a transitional period with all the
accompanying distractions and detours.
It is universally believed
that a populace could govern itself, if it was well informed. US
President James Madison said: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance
and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves
with the power that knowledge gives. A popular government without
popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a
farce or a tragedy or perhaps both.”
Similarly, Hugo Black, a
judge of the US Supreme Court, observed: “Guarantee for a free press
rests upon the assumption that the widest possible dissemination of
information from diverse and antagonistic sources is essential to the
well-being of the people.”
What can be inferred from the
foregoing is that the freedom of expression and people’s right to
information are essential ingredients for tranquillity and progress of a
democratic polity and the media outlets are the forum to promote and
strengthen these fundamental rights. Any objective observer would
ungrudgingly agree that the Pakistani media, with all its shortcomings,
has played a sterling role in keeping the people informed.
Like
the media, the apex court and its judges has, undoubtedly, given some
landmark decisions in the corruption cases, which were lingering for a
long time, leading to the recovery of billions of rupees. This has,
indeed, sent a very loud and clear message that nobody can take the
national exchequer for a ride and if anybody dares to indulge in this
detestable practice, he or she will not be able to get away with it.
Due
to these judgments, a new culture of accountability has started taking
root; an auspicious development for the future of the country. In fact,
the combination of independent media and proactive judiciary has made
sure that no adventurer ever entertains the thought of unconstitutional
steps and democracy marches on uninterrupted. Here one must also admire
the political acumen and the creed of political reconciliation practiced
by the present government.
The judiciary has also proved its
credentials of independence by erasing the hitherto permeating
impression that it was only targeting the political leaders,
particularly the present government, and had no courage to hold the
khakis accountable for their acts of omission and commission.
The
Supreme Court decision in the Asghar Khan case is a ranting testimony
of the judiciary being really independent and non-partisan. The decision
has not only identified the malaise that has afflicted our body politic
for long, but has also unmasked the characters and the institutions who
have been playing a sinister game to subvert the people’s will,
pummelling the constitution and keeping the PPP away from the corridors
of power. The PPP, undoubtedly, stands vindicated.
Now that the
disease has been diagnosed and its causes clearly spelled out, it should
be ensured that the villains do not escape the dragnet of justice and
have to pay for their misdeeds. The Supreme Court would do well to take
the initiative itself to punish the culprits before the next elections.
The
media also has a role to play, here, in building the public opinion and
educating the masses about the seriousness of the matter. This matter
should be settled once and for all so that the people can move forward
with the confidence that their march towards their cherished destiny, as
envisioned by the father of the nation, will not be disrupted by ever
again.
The writer is a freelance columnist. Email: ashpak10@gmail.com