We Are Not Free - The Future of Media in Pakistan

kiran.jpgAn excellent documentary by Kiran Khalid exposing restrictions and difficulties that Pakistani Media is facing. Kiran Khalid is an independent broadcast journalist with more than ten years of newsroom experience. She currently works as a television correspondent, field producer and media consultant for outlets including CNN International and Court TV. She recently finished We Are Not Free, which is her second documentary film..


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30 Comments »

  1. Omer Khan Says:
    March 5th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
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    Owais Tauhid looks like Alpacino!! @7:20

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    It is crystal clear that the media is not free. On contrary it is controlled. Just look at the way f.ex. GEO is making headlines to divert the nation away from grave issues. We are diverted to see an Indian being released from jail after 35 years as a big stunt by a Musharraf lover (Anser Burney). This news went on for two days….What a mess at a time when others are playing with their lives to get rid of a monster dictator. Difficult times for the media. Only time will tell how they will get out of the Mush-clutches.

    /Saqib

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  3. Omer Khan Says:
    March 5th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
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    @Saqib, are you saying there is visible difference in media’s coverage of events, tone, etc… after emergency? Or that Pakistan media has been doing this all along?

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    Well !!!
    I know media in Pakistan isnt free yet, but if we compare it to 10 years back when one of largest news paper “jang” was forcefully shrinked to 2 pages. So media in todays time has improved professionaly and has got some of its independence through its efforts. and inshaALLAH with the contiues pace and its careful professionalism, Media will get its full freedom.
    But looking at the ground realities, we should not and can not compare our media with the with the west , who all of em must have gone through the same process decades ago….
    what we got today ,a big change in our political system, is because of media, as people been updated with the developments in our surroundings……………..
    i hope and pray for our media 2 get their freedom
    Amen

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    @Omer Khan

    Yes, the media is not the same any longer. Now they are (largely) dancing to Musharraf’s tune. We don’t see the same enthusiasm when reporters are in action on vital issues. We hardly see anything about the lawyers movement. According to the media it should have died, but fortunately that is NOIT the case.

    In another way I don’t mind seeing irrelevant front figures from gangster parties appearing frequently on TV. For example Altaf Hussain. I’d like to see him more often including picture and his ugly voice. I am sure people will give him the treatment as Sher Afghan Niazi got. People will learn to know these incompetent people in a true way instead of reading statements in the newspapers. In fact this is Tab’an Khamosh’s idea.

    /Saqib

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    I can’t decide whether that PTV anchor is a TURD SANDWICH or a GIANT DOUCHE!

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    PTV anchor are pupit of GOVT now they are changing their views and it is shame for them specially host of a porgram called live from awan e sadar say … hahaah i really enjoy when he is changing his views regarding opposition those who are in Power now …. SHAME ON YOU ALL PTV CHANAL . i cant even watch PTV continue for 5 min really POOR TV

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    PTV = Puke TV

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  9. Omer Khan Says:
    March 5th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
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    rather PTV = Prepaid T V

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    @ Omar & Saqib.

    If we go back 1400 years , when Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, started preaching , he went strategically with the consent of ALLAH, to acheive the change systematically, by preaching kalma first, then praying second and then updating new rules and laws gradually, if i am not wrong.

    same way the students of management do learn in their subjects of organisational or cultural change, which comes through minor changes first , getting people ready to accept change.

    what i meant by all these two examples is, that system cannt be changed with the click of thumb and shahadat finger,, it needs time.
    just compared todays media with the one we had one 10 years back, when nawaiwaqt was shrinked into 2 pages, i think its getting better and better,
    I am hopeful that tommorow it will be better from today and then the day after..

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  11. Omer Khan Says:
    March 5th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
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    Love_pak inshallah

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    hopping and not hoping***** srry for the inconvenience:)

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    @TB

    he’s both!!! and a c***T to boot

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    National Disease

    Minute 00:01 to minute 00:11, fourteenth man from left. Also see one of Mush

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    PTV=ParvezTV

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  16. Revivalist Says:
    March 6th, 2008 at 5:22 am
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    Free media is a myth and does not exist anywhere. It always fulfills the interests of the capitalists or carries a particular ideology forward. Media is free within the boundaries prescribed by the elite group, it is even free to criticize government and its officials to show some credibility but when it comes to present an alternative system to the prevalent system, it

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  17. ajnabi larki from canada Says:
    March 6th, 2008 at 5:36 am
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    a very good work, but still mild in its tone.
    attrocities against freedom of expressions are much much more than shown.
    anyways a v nice effort.
    :)

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    PTV=Pervaiz TV (For the past 8 years)
    PTV=Pro-establishment TV (Since inauguration to date)

    /Saqib

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    [...] PK Politics An excellent documentary by Kiran Khalid exposing restrictions and difficulties that Pakistani [...]

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  20. Pakistani 2008 Says:
    March 6th, 2008 at 11:38 am
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    Free media or Atta, please tell me the priority of this nation which is also getting strangled with a variety of different problems. These problems start from criminal activities to the formation of new government and making the situation worst. Media is just a tool in the hands of politicians and simply represent the thoughts of different groups. As they claim that they show truth but that does not mean that is actual truth. Although they play positive and negative role in perception development of people. This perception, fortunately or unfortunately, proves itself stronger than reality.

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    @ Pakistani 2008

    Free judiciary. That is No 1 priority. If ADAL is there, evrything else will be in order.

    And from free juduciary, I don’t mean Iftikhar Choudhry & co only; though they may be a part of it.

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  22. Pakistani 2008 Says:
    March 6th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
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    @ Adam1

    I really appreciate your thinking and pray that this can become true. Unfortunately, the problems are much worse and even restoration of judges is a very myopic view of the problems of Pakistan.

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    Whatever @ Adam 1 has said above, is completely right. We also need to have
    the each pillar of the state working without interference from the other. Even if
    the judiciary is restored, but if it’s decisions are not enforced by the other pillars
    of the state, then it makes a mockery, a charade & a mess of that particular
    pillar (of the state, ) as at present.

    Lastly, we need to have sincere & honest leaders, those having intellectual
    honesty, who can lead the nation out of the present mayhem.

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  24. moodykhan Says:
    March 6th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
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    BRAVO - TALAT HUSSAIN
    Hats off to you Talat Hussain.. only if there are few more journalists like you ( InshaAllah There will be) . Pakistans fortunes will rise again.
    Does anybody know whatever happened to Dr Shahid Masood?

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    Dictators falcify history, yellow journalism endorse them, conscientious journalist expose the dictators falshood.
    BravoTalat

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  26. mian akbar Says:
    March 7th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
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    in pakistan media will never be let free by the govt b cause all the polition can not afford to free it

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  27. pervez musharraf Says:
    March 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
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    tusi ki chahnde ho k media free ho jave
    ende lai qeemat chukani paru gi

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    PTV = piti huwee

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  29. adeel ayub Says:
    March 8th, 2008 at 9:25 am
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    Mush has bashed the independent media once again.
    I think he was specifically pointing out Hamid mir.

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    [...] development of people. … in pakistan media will never be let free by the govt b cause all the …http://pkpolitics.com/2008/03/05/we-are-not-free-the-future-of-media-in-pakistan/Association of Pakistani Professionals Friends of PakistanThe recent negative media onslaught aimed [...]

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