Not about a boy

Media outlets could have explored possible scenarios that led Shahzeb’s family to forgive the killers.

The moment news broke that Shahzeb Khan’s family had pardoned his convicted killers, the instant debate was how much money the latter ‘must’ have paid the former — not if they were paid, but how much. News alerts and talk-show hosts did nothing more than adding fuel to the fire by creating more suspicion than needed. What needed to be done at that moment was to bring the bigger picture to light. The media should have clarified on behalf of Shahzeb’s parents that under the principles of Diyat and Qisas, the family has every right to pardon for the sake of God or even for blood money.

However, the media — and again I’d like to specifically point out talk-show hosts — was the most indignant. Prime-time television was abuzz with tales of the injured party: how the media and the people were wronged by Shahzeb Khan’s family and how society would think twice about supporting ‘a cause’ in the future.

Perhaps talk-show hosts and news anchors should be reminded that if they gave airtime to protests held against Shahzeb’s murder, they did so because it is their job to report news and because they were competing with other media groups for ratings. And if they, in any way, assisted justice being meted out, it wasn’t a favour to the society but their basic duty.

Setting aside that, the media outlets could have, at least, explored possible scenarios that might have led Shahzeb’s family to forgive the killers nearly nine months after his death, there were other pressing issues which were largely ignored. The criteria and application of Diyat and Qisas should have been discussed at length with noted clerics and legal experts. The state should have been asked to clarify these laws and their specific application, so that there is no room left for exploitation.

Most importantly, since Shahzeb Khan’s murder came to symbolise the battle of good vs evil and mobilised a certain part of society which earlier rarely took to the streets, the media should have time and time again reminded people that the ‘cause’ was never only about justice for Shahzeb Khan — it was a fight against all cold-blooded murders and the lack of remorse on part of the convicts in this country. Just because the course of battle took an unexpected turn doesn’t mean you throw down your arms.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2013.