One wonders what the point is of suspending media coverage of banned outfits when they are permitted to operate freely
JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: In the backdrop of the confusion about who had asked Pemra to impose a media ban on the activities of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliated outfits Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), it was amazing to see how promptly the interior ministry distanced itself from the decision. Apparently, it was the information ministry that issued these orders while citing UN resolution 1267 and the prime minister’s commitment to the American president during his recent Washington visit. Let’s see how long it takes for the ministry to backtrack from this ban.
On a different note, one wonders what the point is of suspending the media coverage of banned outfits when they are still permitted to operate freely. Media coverage of these groups may prompt the outside world to raise questions about Pakistan’s commitment to counter their actions, but if someone thinks that by merely banning them from the media, people can be fooled, he or she is mistaken. The JuD and the FIF have been given a free hand to operate in earthquake-hit areas. Even without media coverage, they are penetrating wherever possible, to win sympathisers for their cause. Was it the UN Security Council’s duty to tell Pakistan what to do in terms of this ban?
Masood Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2015.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
