When most people stay quiet and let lies take over their lives and society, even in tough situations, it takes great courage for one person to stand up and speak the truth. Today, democracy and society suffer when the truth is silenced. So, is democracy, already fragile, heading towards its end?
If this is not the truth, then why are we silent, letting authoritarians kill voices speaking hard truths and revealing injustice sugarcoating? Yet, there are still brave voices daring to challenge the authoritarian state of Pakistan.
You might wonder why I refer to the Pakistani state as authoritarian, especially when political parties claim to uphold democracy. However, the reality is that the reins of power are not in the hands of compromised politicians; decisions are made elsewhere, by someone else. It’s not just my opinion; the international platform, the Democracy Index, for instance, declared Pakistan as an authoritarian state in 2023.
To me, Pakistan is currently enduring its worst period in history. Comparing it to past eras, particularly under notorious dictators like Zia-ul-Haq, we saw a tightening grip on journalism and even punishment for journalists. However, during Zia’s reign, political parties vehemently opposed his control over journalism. Subsequently, another dictator, Musharraf, continued this pattern. It’s a troubling trend in Pakistan, where each successive dictator seems worse than their predecessor.
Political parties once backed press freedom and opposed dictators. But today, their tone echoes dictatorial tendencies. Under their rule, journalists are silenced, and criticism is stifled.
The situation in Pakistan is alarming as journalists face increasing danger. In May alone, four journalists were killed: in North Waziristan, Kamran Dawar, Siddique Mengal in Balochistan, Ahmed Sial in Punjab, and Sindh Nasrullah Gadani. Meanwhile, the ruling government attempts to silence free speech on social media as well.
In the past two years, we have witnessed the tragic murders of journalists in Sindh province: Jan Mohammad Mahar last year and Nasrullah Gadani this year. Additionally, Ajay Lalwani was murdered in previous years, and numerous journalists have faced harassment. Despite the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) history of fighting against dictatorships and its secular stance, no perpetrators have been brought to justice for these journalists killed under its rule, and harassment continues unabated.
Who was Nasrullah Gadani?
Gadani, hailing from a farming family, bravely worked in the challenging city Mirpur Mathelo, Ghotki district. Feudal lords, religious groups, the military establishment, and local authorities control the area. When people think of Ghotki, they no longer mention its famous sweet. Instead, they talk about the killing of Sindh’s famous Sufi singer, Bhagat Kanwar Ram, in 1939 by a religious extremist group. This incident, along with ongoing forced conversions in the district, is linked to the infamous shrine of Bharchundi.
He didn’t opt for the typical path of covering powerful people’s press conferences; instead, his focus was on stories about the struggles of ordinary people. His camera exposed corruption by politicians, many of whom were feudal lords themselves. While most journalists sought ways to navigate the system, Gadani remained committed to his journalism.
Had Gadani come from a wealthy background or Islamabad, we would have likely seen articles about him. However, in poverty-stricken Ghotki, where the struggles of people are often ignored, Gadani became their voice. Now, those same people mourn his loss, feeling like they have lost their voice, wondering who will tell their stories now.
Not only did Gadani cover people’s stories, but he also reported on climate change-related stories. He continuously covered felling forest and informed his viewers about the destruction of forests. However, Sindh government largely ignored his reports because he wasn’t part of the elite media. His coverage exposed the government’s negligence towards climate change, revealing that the state wasn’t taking meaningful action to address environmental concerns despite its mantra about environmental protection.
Gadani fearlessly criticized and exposed local feudal lords naming them directly. He never shied away from asking tough questions. His boldness even led him to create a slogan, “Feudal lords my foot,” reflecting his deep-seated anger towards exploitation and corruption.
Finally and above all, Gadani did not spare the military, as seen in his recent video where he boldly listed out their business interests. In a country where few dare to mention the military’s business dealings, Gadani courageously spoke out about them.
Was he a journalist?
Today, some journalist groups seem more preoccupied with critiquing Gadani’s journalistic style rather than investigating who murdered him and why the local police filed a weak First Information Report (FIR). But the crucial question remains: was he a journalist? Did he peddle fake news? True journalism, after all, refuses to let facts and truths be buried. Gadani never compromised on this principle, even though he knew his voice would one day be silenced. He never backed down in the face of threats.
So, is the discourse on ethical journalism more vital than identifying his killers? This does not imply that we should not discuss the ethics of journalism, including digital or citizen journalism.
Why doesn’t such discourse arise when elite media/TV outlets conveniently bury facts and openly support power politics? Isn’t this an example of poor journalism? When journalism becomes a business, at least Gadani never succumbed to it.
Some say it’s activism, not journalism. First, we need to understand what activism means. In today’s digital era, journalists discuss issues and share opinions. As journalism transitions from traditional to digital, it’s crucial to redefine journalism. However, the core of journalism – telling the truth and revealing facts – must remain intact. Lies and fabricated facts are not part of journalism. Unfortunately, here, truth and facts are often concealed.
As a journalist, our first responsibility is to hold those in power accountable. Unfortunately, consciously or unconsciously, some journalists now hold accountable those who ask hard questions. We have forgotten that journalists should never be the spokesperson for the state or any government. We are spokespersons for the truth.
Feudal lords or the establishment involved in his killing
There is no doubt that when any incident erupts, people start spreading rumors. However, rumors cannot persist for long. Regarding Gadani’s murder, some leads cannot be ignored, including his videos where he mentioned those who intended to kill him. His recent reporting exposed many powerful quarters and feudal lords. Local sources I spoke to claimed before his killing, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) warned him of serious consequences. While this is a grave allegation and hard to confirm, his video on the military’s business cannot be overlooked.
Additionally, the source mentioned that in Ghotki, about 25 oil wells are controlled by the establishment, and even local feudal lords need permission to visit those areas. Gadani continuously raised questions about this and highlighted the exploitation of locals.
On the other hand, the name of the Lund tribe, particularly a feudal lord who is a member of PPP, has been implicated in Gadani’s killing because Gadani was vocally criticizing him. His guards even threatened Gadani with aerial firing. According to sources, whether the establishment killed him directly or through the feudal lord, such an incident happened.
Without concrete evidence, these allegations remain just that – allegations. Meanwhile, the police’s handling of the case has been suspicious from the start. They have been trying to link his murder to an honor killing, raising eyebrows and suggesting that some influential groups are being given safe passage.
Therefore, Gadani’s mother expressed doubt in the police investigation and demanded a judicial inquiry to uncover the truth. It is the responsibility of the ruling PPP government, whose party member is widely implicated in his killing, to encourage the formation of a judicial commission. Otherwise, a weak investigation cannot deliver justice.
Whoever is involved in Gadani’s killing must be revealed. If journalists stay silent, another powerful quarter will silence the next journalist.
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