Pakistan- A "media friendly" nation

Given the service it does to the international community, Pakistan should be listed as most favoured nation by United Nations. I am sure of getting support from every nation on such a proposal. International media will definitely come forward in turning this proposal into reality.

Pakistan has been consistently serving as content provider of news media across globe. BBC, CNN, ABC, Reuters are all grateful to Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. It is only ISI that makes sure that the international media has something to telecast, write every day. ISI ensures that the international reporters, who have been spending their life thousands of kilometres away from their families, get something to report back home and justify their salaries.

Since 2000, Pakistan has been consistent in providing news to every media house in the world. Journalists who cover Asia for BBC, CNN, NYT are more relaxed than Washington or London court reporter. From Christopher Amanpour to Barkha Dutt, all owe some amount of their success to Pakistan.

ISI does not believe in discriminating against its own. Hence, it provides content not only to ever hungry International media, but also to its own news media. One day it is about possible army coup, the next a terror attack. There is always some story keep floating involving ISI, Pak army, Pak government. There is always a conspiracy at work. Long before Osama Bin Laden was killed in a mansion in Attotabad, Pakistan had started providing some news story to all media houses across globe. Former Pervez Musharaf had said it several times that Osama Bin Laden may be dead. He had said it on several occasions. That was his way of providing story to news media. So, contribution extends from terrorists in the country to the President of the country.

Looking for some good story on Monday morning, newsroom feels confident that friend Pakistan will not disappoint. They no more need to be anxious about their editor's possible anger because Pakistanis are on the job. Look at any Indian newspaper archive from last 10 years for instance, there will be atleast one news story related to Pakistan. BBC, CNN cannot have a South Asia news bulletin without mentioning Pakistan in it.

ISI has built a very unique way of keep serving their international brethren. If the administration is on leave, it arranges Pakistanis in other countries to fill in. It not only gives news from Pakistani soil, it has also started contributing from other nations where Pakistanis are residing. This contribution deserves to be honoured. From Durand line to Chicago courtroom, Pakistan is serving newspapers, news channels regularly without charging anything. It is only because of Pakistan that many people in media business are surviving.

ISI is so committed that if it fails to provide fodder, it keeps people like Shahid Afridi, Veena Malik, A Q Khan as back up.

ISI is unique, only they can be so

First, they do something that becomes news. Second, they deny it. Third, evidence says that they did it. Fourth, they are targeted. Fifth, they are acted against. Sixth, they admit. ETC...

 At the end, it is Pakistan that helps.

There are innumerable instances of Pakistan dominating headlines, in turn, editorials in the newspapers. It is only Pakistan that can sidetrack stories of Middle East uprising. It provides page one story with an article on edit page and one on an OP-ED page.

Pakistanis have become more important than any star in any other country. A country with negligible growth rate, no tourism can still generate news on regular basis. The contribution is not limited to journalists, Pakistan also takes good care of publishing houses. There are new books on Pakistan every year. It is only because of Pakistan that authors earn their royalty. Many think tanks get funding because they concentrate their study on Pakistan. Many strategic experts owe their luxurious lives to Pakistanis.

From media, authors to cricket, everyone is covered. Army, ISI have all elements for daily news. Pakistan is so committed in its duty of serving media, it also compromises its sovereignty for it.

Pakistan is the only consistent performer who never failed any one. Taking Pakistan's sincerity on this front into consideration, IMF, World Bank, and ADB all should create a separate fund for Pakistan. All major economies should pledge annual amount to this great nation.

Pakistan has been created to help society in many different ways. Only Pakistan has the potential to do it. Most fortunate is world news media that is being benefited almost on daily basis. One can say that India or many other countries can qualify in the same category, but unlike Pakistan, these countries lack consistency and variety. They lack masala.

Given the contribution mentioned above, Pakistan needs to get the honour it deserves. All institutions in that country need attention. It should not surprise anyone if Pakistan starts charging for this uninterrupted contribution in the welfare of governments, authors, and journalists.

The Leader and his Henchmen (Part-2)

 Account, ability & accountability

(They rise to the occasion, but only till leader catches their rise. They apply rules only till leader keeps an eye. They hide their inabilities behind their raised voice. They rely on leader for royalty in exchange of their loyalty.)

Henchmen start briefing newcomers about the kind of approach they need to adapt to in order to survive in the organisation. To make their point clear, they cite themselves as an example of being an exceptional soldier. "It took me number of efforts to reach where I am today", one henchman declares. As the leader fulfils henchmen's demand of more heads to get the work done, henchmen start creating a coterie out of newly available heads. The competitive henchmen start taking competition as a challenge to show the leader that they are committed to further his agenda. Competition between henchmen takes centre stage. As the coterie will be constituted by picking people from the newly available lot, every henchman tells newcomers that they should be strictly following his/her orders. Every henchman seeks maximum out of the new lot. They even start identifying people from the new lot who could win them some points over other henchman.

Some Individuals from the newcomers do not wish to follow what they are being dictated. Not even through with their introduction to the work and environment, they find becoming a part of henchmen's coterie unnecessary. They refuse to choose sides. That creates opportunity for these competitive henchmen to create coterie within the coterie. Those, who choose to stay neutral in the henchman versus henchman battle, are implicated in artificial controversies. Creation of artificial controversy is the easiest job for henchmen. They are the masters of this game. Disgruntled newcomers, thinking about immediate relief, knowing that they have to be part of some coterie to survive, choose to go with least troublesome henchmen.

An assigned task, which the leader hails as the most important part of the duty, falls on henchmen who, at the first place, were never eligible to carry out such a task. As the henchmen are the ones who have been promoted to perform this 'most important' duty, start complaining about non-cooperation by people other than their coteries. They start telling leader about the non-cooperation being the only reason for the objective lying unfinished. They even convince leader that how his orders can't be implemented due to non-cooperation by these 'other' people. "It is only because of them that your vision is hampered", they reason. Henchmen's dislike for these 'others' starts soaring. They now identify names, to be implicated, when leader demands answers for not following the standards set by him. When leader starts accountability business, henchmen do not hesitate in naming people. Henchmen hate these 'others' more as these 'others' are the ones who point out their mistakes in the presence of newcomers and the leader.

When leader starts accountability business, he points only to the people other than his henchmen & their coteries. Fearing that he may lose loyal henchmen, he holds only 'others' accountable.

To satisfy henchmen, leader, raising his voice, defines objectives again. He re-issues already issued order about following his objectives. The leader publicly declares that those who are not co-operating (with his henchmen) will be taken to task. He doesn't listen to others' side. He knows listening to “others” will mean taking action against his henchmen. He also knows that once henchmen are accused of wrongdoing, his leadership will be questioned too. As the drama unfolds, 'others' once again become victim of public humiliation.

First coteries are formed. People who refuse to take side or who just wish to focus on work are implicated whenever the opportunity knocks. Leader, least interested in looking into the whole saga, appoints most loyal henchman to deal with other henchmen. This person, who is expected to clean the mess, creates more mess by creating one more coterie of people who become his eyes and ears. Enjoying the proximity to the leader, this person becomes self-appointed leader of all henchmen.

Leader, on the behest of loyal henchmen, holds everyone other than henchmen & co responsible for failure. He asserts how he has been let down by 'others'.

Witnessing this game, the whole population loses hope in leader's ability in dealing with this mess. Leader even forgets the very principles he fervently propounded two weeks earlier. He even refuses to acknowledge the hard work done by people other than his henchmen & co.

Principles forgotten, people ignored. Leader even cuts down his connection with these henchmen on daily basis as the voice of foul cry grows. He does not want to be seen declaring his henchmen idiot. He finds another way of balancing the situation. He gives henchmen power of attorney. "These attorneys, with power in their hands, plead for themselves".

First they dictate, second they run, third they start taking decisions, fourth they start ruling.

They know nothing. They lack vital ingredients to operate at senior level. It is the henchmen who run the show now. If something goes wrong, it is because of these 'others'. If the show is a success story, it is because of leader's vision, henchmen's hard work, and coterie’s loyalty. Leader honours his henchmen, henchmen appreciate coteries.

It becomes daily business. Henchmen, in turn, become leader. Coterie, in turn, becomes henchmen.

(Concluded).