We mentioned last week that a new article exposing Shireen Mazari was being published by her former American colleague that adds further embarrassment for The Nation and making the Pakistan media as a whole look foolish in the eyes of the world. Finally we have received a copy of the article, and are providing it below.
Archive for December, 2009
Shireen Mazari Exposed In New Article
Thursday, December 31st, 2009Media continues to be source of international embarrassment
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009The media continues to be a source of international embarrassment for Pakistan. Not only is there the upcoming article about Shireen Marazi in the magazine The New Republic, but a recent article in The Washington Times by veteran journalist and Editor-at-Large of United Press Intertnational Arnaud de Borchgrave paints a particularly unflattering picture of our national media.
In a satirical piece on Pakistan’s “New Media Dictionary,” Nadeem F. Paracha described “conspiracy theory” as “a theory that is not a theory at all but a hard fact on Pakistan’s TV channels,” where anything goes and where 90 percent of Pakistanis get their news.
For America’s television coloratura of right and left, the modus operandi is to mold rather than inform. In Pakistan, they do more than mold – they fake it. The overwhelming majority of Pakistanis believe Sept. 11, 2001, was the work of two co-conspirators – Mossad and the CIA.
The broadcasts of World War II’s Tokyo Rose were tame compared to some of the outpourings on Pakistani’s 50 TV channels. And “anyone disagreeing with the hard and loud factoids,” Mr. Paracha adds, “is a Mossad/CIA/RAW [Indian] … agent and a possible swine flu carrier who would be lined up against the walls of Delhi’s Red Fort and shot dead during Ghazwa-ul Hind in 2012″ – the year of the forecast conquest of India by Muslims, which is also the year of a growing pile of apocalyptic warnings and anxieties about the end of the 5,125-year Mayan calendar. Armageddon is around the corner.
It is bad enough that conspiracy theorists and yellow journalists are creating distractions and confusion within Pakistan. But the fact that they continue to be a source of international embarrassment is confounding. Have these so-called journalists no shame? Where is the “Ghairat Lobby” when you need them?
Media Gives Pro-Taliban Parties Undue Attention
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009Nadeem Paracha’s column written in the aftermath of the horrible attack in Karachi makes an important point about the effect of media on politics, and how certain media outlets are giving an outsized bullhorn to pro-Taliban political parties.
It is interesting to note, that though parties such as the Jamat-i-Islami and Imran Khan’s Tehrik-e-Insaaf have largely been ineffectual players in the bigger game of electoral politics, they have however managed to take their stance of the war and the Taliban on the mainstream platform through the electronic media.
Thus, the mainstream electronic media too has come under fire from the allied ruling parties for constantly giving vent to the ‘pro-Taliban’ and populist sentiments of unelected politicians and certain conservative journalists and columnists who – even after dozens of suicide attacks owned up by the Taliban recently – have continued to point the finger towards the US and India.
Even the large amount of proof now available to point towards the direct involvement of the local Taliban in the terrorist attacks in Pakistan it seems has not been able to make these politicians, and electronic and print journalists, change their populist and largely demagogic stand on the issue.
There is not a natural sympathy for these right-wing points of view in the country. That is not to say that these political parties should not be allowed to voice their opinions — quite the opposite, in fact. But the freedom to say your opinion does not guarantee you a free bullhorn to amplify your voice.
By giving Taliban sympathizers a platform from which to shout their message, these media outlets are making it look like there is some credibility or popularity for these points of view, rather than the more moderate and naturally inclined opinions of most Pakistanis.
As a result, conspiracy theories and blaming some foreign country for our problems becomes the mindset of people influenced by what they see and hear on TV. This despite the fact, as Nadeem well notes, that there is overwhelming evidence that the actual culprits in these attacks are Taliban.
Some media personalities and TV anchors have particular right-wing agendas that are well documented. Some are simply sensationalist in the drive to build their ratings and viewership. These ‘Media Taliban’ are doing a disservice to journalism and the nation.
Nadeem Paracha: Waltz with the NRO
Sunday, December 27th, 2009Regular readers know that we are big fans of Nadeem Paracha. He represents what is good about journalism — being critical, but fair; being intelligent, but accessible; putting solid analysis before fantasy; and most of all, his willingness to take his fellow media personalities to task when they are ridiculous.
This week, of course, he takes aim at the response to the NRO verdict and the ‘hyperventilating’ that came from every famous TV anchor:
Shireen Mazari: Ann Coulter of Pakistan
Friday, December 25th, 2009The coming article about Shireen Mazari is a real eye-opener. “Slander: Meet the Ann Coulter of Pakistan”, paints a quite unflattering picture of a friendless, bitter, paranoid old woman who sees spies and enemies everywhere. People like this are not uncommon. We see them in markets every day. Shireen Mazari is different, though, because she has a platform in the national media.
Here’s a sneak peek:
IN LATE AUGUST, a couple of weeks after a U.S. drone strike incinerated Baitullah Mehsud, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, the country’s most popular televised chat show, “Capital Talk,” hosted a panel to discuss national security. Among the guests was a squat, middle-aged woman with short black hair, streaked with silver dye, named Shireen Mazari. A defense analyst and public intellectual, Mazari is known for her hawkish nationalism–and deep suspicions of India and the United States. Her presence in the studio suggested that, despite the enormous threat her country faced from homegrown terrorists, the conversation that night wouldn’t center around Mehsud or the Pakistani Taliban.
Instead, over the course of the next half hour, the panel discussed reports that Blackwater, the North Carolina-based defense contractor that recently changed its name to Xe Services, was operating in Pakistan. Hamid Mir, the host of “Capital Talk,” showed video footage of Islamabad’s most expensive neighborhoods, featuring multi-story villas with high walls and satellite dishes. The homes looked like any other on the street. But red arrows, superimposed on the screen, pointed to allegedly incriminating electrical generators and surveillance cameras perched atop the walls. “American undercover people are coming,” Mazari said. “They are renting homes, and Blackwater is providing security, running death squads and assassination squads … It is an occupation, by default.”
Mazari’s hunt for American spies and undercover defense contractors was only getting started. In September, she was named editor of The Nation, an English-language daily often described as “Fox News in Pakistan.” (Earlier this year, one columnist dubbed Mazari the “Ann Coulter of Pakistan.”) Throughout the fall, The Nation has published multiple front-page stories on the location of new “Blackwater dens” around Islamabad. It featured a news story last month titled “MYSTERIOUS US NATIONALS,” which described “two suspicious foreigners wandering in the guise of journalists … [who] seemingly belonged to the US spy agency CIA.” The proof? That they “were driven towards the US Consulate.” (The “mysterious US nationals” turned out to be an English freelance photographer and an Australian photographer who works for Getty.)
Later in the article, even Mazari’s fellow journalists say that she had gone over the edge and that since she has become editor of The Nation, the reporting in that newspaper has gone crazy. How crazy? So much that Taliban is using it as propaganda.
In the end, this article is really quite sad. Mazari is exposed as a pathetic figure. A paranoid woman filled with delusional fantasies that just never quite seem to work out when people check the facts. All Americans are spies. Anyone who disagrees with her is working for the spies. In fact, it is easy to come away from this article an imagine Shireen Mazari locked in her own kitchen with the lights off, having thrown out the cook for being a spy. Perhaps the rice was overcooked a bit too much. Is it a secret plot against her?
Stay tuned, dear readers, as this story unfolds. It promises to be quite juicy!
Shireen Mazari Embarasses The Nation
Thursday, December 24th, 2009UPDATE: A dear reader has written that he has a copy of the article and says that the author once worked with Shireen Mazari in Pakistan and is exposing some pretty damning evidence about her! I will keep this blog updated with more information as I receive it!
Thanks to a tip from a dear reader we have been informed that there is a new article coming out in the American magazine The New Republic about Nation editor Shireen Mazari in which the author calls her “The Ann Coulter of Pakistan” and speaks at length about her paranoid delusions and yellow journalism. The article is written by Mr. Nicholas Schmidle, an international journalist who has written a book about the two years that he lived in Pakistan as a journalism fellow and now lives in America and is a fellow at the think tank New America Foundation.
Our dear reader included a link to a blog post by Michael Crowley, a journalist for The New Republic, that discusses Mr. Schmidle’s coming article and the state of media in Pakistan generally:
Shahid Masood is Not Chief Justice
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Why is Shahid Masood pretending he is Chief Justice?
Why is Shahid Masood pretending he is Chief Justice? As a TV talk show host, Masood could be facilitating discussions about the topic of the day in a way that brings new and enlightening information to the people. Instead, he is constantly thrusting his opinion over others, and treating his own opinion as fact. Take as a perfect example his latest episode in which he makes grand speeches about the NRO.
From the moment of President Zardari’s election, Shahid Masood has said that Zardari should not be President, and that it is only a matter of time before the army will force him out. Much of Masood’s
However, Shahid Masood’s predictions appear to be about as good as his colleague Shaheen Sehbai’s. Zardari has continued in office, and the Army has said they will not force Zardari out.
Frustrated by his inability to read the star charts, Masood appears to have become determined to create an environment where instead his wishes come true. His latest episode of Merey Mutabiq shows Masood pretending to be Chief Justice, and expecting the incumbents to come to Masood and present a case for him to judge, even while he makes such simple mistakes as to forget that NRO was promulgated on Oct 5, 2007, and Benazir did not ask for any relief during her life.
This is a major problem with these TV talk show hosts. They fancy themselves high-minded intellectuals who sit in judgment of everyone else. Actually, there is already a Supreme Court, and it is not found on Geo TV.
Taliban Target Press Club in Peshawar
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
Peshawar Press Club bombed by jihadi militants
Taliban militants have bombed a journalists’ club, killing three people. This violent attack on media sends a clear signal that jihadi militants are targeting the heart of Pakistan’s civil society. Will right-wing conspiracy-prone talking heads now finally admit that this jihadi war on Pakistan is real? Will Shahid Masood, Shaheen Sehbai, and Ansar Abbasi finally come to see that the militants are not some figment of the imagination, but ruthless killers?
I have written before that threats to journalists threaten press freedom, only to have Ahmed Quraishi defend the practice of tarring journalists as spies and unsavory elements. But the brush that paints journalists as enemies is a wide brush, and it easily splatters where you may not have intended. When people like Mr. Quraishi begin accusing fellow journalists, they endager all journalists. Today, sadly, we see what can come of this practice.
The writers on Pakistan Media Watch have great respect for the profession of journalism. We have each written for newspapers ourselves, and we will continue to do so. We offer critiques of the media because we believe Pakistan’s journalists have incredible talent, and we want to see that talent shine on the world’s stage.
Today, though, we are saddened at the loss of our friends and comrades.
With heavy hearts we agree with the words of Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister of NWFP, who described the attack as an assault on freedom of the press.
“We salute the media for … exposing militants and their acts against innocent people,” he said, adding that “terrorists are becoming desperate as they know they are losing this war, so they are attacking the media directly.”
Merey Mutabiq: What is the point of the show?
Monday, December 21st, 2009For the average Pakistani, what is the point of Merey Mutabiq? One could hardly recall a program of Dr. Shahid Masood in which he had discussed the problems or individual issues that most people of the country face. If at all he had any viwership, he is fast losing that due to a particular set of persons always appearing in his program and giving one sided and half-baked truth. Rather, his show seems to focus only on insider political questions that promote his particular point of view. For the average Pakistani, who cares?
Now that the Supreme Court has given the verdict on NRO, we are waiting for the dust to settle and the cases to move forward if there is enough evidence. Already the country is abuzz with feverish speculation about what comes next. Some in our fevered rumour mill circuit are using this opportunity not to make rational analysis of the cases which were made during a specific period of politics and must be viewed in this respect. Rather these rumour wallahs appear to be indulging in wishful thinking that this means the end of the present government, mid-term elections, etc.
The real focus of course is on President Zardari’s fate and future. Apparently it seems that verdict of Supreme Court will strengthen process of accountability. That is good, but strengthening process of accountability requires two sides to be held accountable — bothe the accused and the accuser. If NRO was against democracy because it bypassed the legal process, then assuming guilt for an accused and demanding resignation is also against democracy for the same reason. Yet you will never hear Shahid Masood or any other right-wing TV anchor say such a thing. Why? Because it does not fit their predetermined answers.
Look at last night’s show. Topic of conversation ranged from government is being confrontational to why won’t Zardari resign. What is the point of this conversation? For the average Pakistani, this is not the main issue. For the sophisticated political person, this is so dumbed down a version of the story that it is not worth the time. Who is Masood talking to? Maybe he is only talking to himself.
Governor Punjab gave a very interesting observation the other day. Why is it that PPP government is always made the subject of criticism? Why resignations are demanded from PPP ministers’ only? Surely some of this is the natural result of PPP being in power. That cannot be avoided. But the fact is that with shows like Merey Mutabiq constantly only talking on and on about these things, the people may become convinced that PPP government is being punished for being the anti-establishment and pro-poor party, rather than any serious crime. So what is the point?
Pakistan's New Media Dictionary
Saturday, December 19th, 2009The esteemed and very witty Nadeem Paracha has posted a satire of Pakistan’s media worthy of the greatest rewards on the Dawn blog. In case you haven’t seen it, here it is for your enlightenment. We only recommend that you do not try to read while drinking your chai, otherwise you may spill it on your computer while you are laughing!
Advertising:
A very important phenomenon in the Pakistani electronic media, where little, irritating films about fairness creams and mobile phone connections become the lifeline of big, irritating seths running really irritating TV channels. Also, the constant source of that wonderfully poignant line, ‘choti si break,’ which, however, may last as long as a military dictatorship in Pakistan.Asif Ali Zardari:
A custom-made punching bag with prominent teeth for talk show hosts to practice theirjihadi judo chops and passionate, ‘anti-corruption’ missionary positions on.Aamir Liaquat:
Name of a special Pilgrimage Package offered by Peo Travels (Pvt.) Ltd. to specifically attract fitnahs to go for Haj and get God’s approval of their meaningful hatred of sub-humans (such as Jews, Ahmadiyyas, Hindus, liberals and swine flu carriers). Also the name of a hyperbolic over-actor masquerading as a ‘religious scholar’ on a TV drama masquerading as a ‘religious advice show’ on a gossip channel masquerading as a ‘news channel.’Aishwarya Rai:
Famous Indian tree-hugger (especially on mangals), who is also a favourite of rabid anti-Hindu Pakistanis who will let her go (along with her tree, but not her husband), when they conquer India during the Ghazwa-ul-Hind in 2012 AD and slaughter all the Hindus of the world with their nuclear-powered laser-swords and bad TV shows, such as Muhammad Bin Iqbal Saladin Qasim Ka Pakistan.Aaj TV:
A TV channel you’d rather leave for kal (as in yesterday).Aag TV:
The favourite music channel of freckled, teenaged fascists.ARY News:
A TV channel set up by jewellers. Get the picture?Bobby Master:
Some guy who serves tea at a famous Pakistani TV channel. Most probably the most intelligent fellow there.Conspiracy Theory:
A theory that is not a theory at all but a hard fact on Pakistani TV channels. Anyone disagreeing with the hard and loud factoids (conspiratorially called conspiracy theorists), is a Mossad/CIA/RAW/NASA/KFC agent and a possible swine flu carrier who would be lined up against the walls of Delhi’s Red Fort and shot dead during the Ghazwa-ul-Hind in 2012 AD.Dr. Danish:
A dentist.
Duniya TV:
A channel on which Sohail Warraich tries to be funny, and Najam Sethi, serious.Dawn.Com:
A place where tiny worthless dots gather at dawn to receive handouts from the many myriad enemies of Pakistan – such as, Indians, Americans, Israelites and Tellytubbies – so that they can use cyberspace to spread their anti-Islam, anti-Pakistan, anti-Shan propaganda through anti-Islam, anti-Pakistan, anti-Tigar Balm writers, columnists, subeditors, reporters, accountants, tea boys and gymnasts. Just what this article is doing on this site, I have no idea. All I know is it’s a conspiracy because Rana Naveedul Hassan said so.DawnNews:
A groovy hang out where pleasant young men and women practice and sharpen their newly acquired American accents by toning their frequently mobile jaws. Here, cops become ‘caaps,’ jobs become ‘jaabs,’ Pakistan becomes ‘Pai-khis-tan,’ and Karachi becomes LA.Dr. Shahid Masood:
A TV hakeem famous for his tangy concoctions and cocktails made from the equally famous witch-doctor Harun Yahya’s recipes of Vulcan stew, Martian soup, and other out-of-space (and out-of-mind) delicacies. If you look closely, you will notice that the good doctor also has a moustache, which many believe was gifted to him by Hamid Gul on his second birthday in 377 BC, during the first Ghazwa-ul-Hind.Eeeeek!
A common female vocal response after watching Dr. Masood’s moustache fall every time someone mentions ‘PTV’ or something about him having a Canadian passport.
‘Me? No. (Plop!) Oops.’
‘Eeeek …!’Express News:
An express-ion connoting something half-baked, done in a hurry. Example: ‘All pace and no substance makes Jack an Express News.’Geo TV:
A Mongolian TV brand that can be watched on horseback while triumphantly marching into Hindustan during the Ghazwa-ul-Hind, Holi,Dewali, and Filmfare Awards. Shows programs hosted by hard, loud factoids bred on prime Vulcan stew and Hilal ki Ding Dong Bubblegum.Ghazwa-ul-Hind:
A forthcoming Lollywood science-fiction blockbuster directed by Zaid Hamid, produced by Dr. Shahid Masood, and staring Maria B., Ali Azmat, Hamid Gul, Irfan Siddiqui, and Yoda.Hamid Mir:
A wrestler.Hamid Gul:
The guy who gave Shahid Masood his moustache and the man Masood hasn’t stopped thanking. ‘Thank you, Hamid Gul sahib, for coming on the show…’ ‘Thank you, Hamid Gulsahib, for coming on the show…’ ‘Thank you, Hamid Gul sahib, for coming on the show…’ ‘Thank you, Hamid Gul sahib, for coming on the show…’ Why can’t his show just be called The Gul-Masood Show?
Indus News:
A news channels watched on the banks of the River Indus. By fish.Iqbal Ka Pakistan:
The show that makes the great allama roll in his grave each week.Imran Khan:
A man who still thinks the Taliban is a brand name for a series of chubby, cuddly teddy bears.Kashif Abbasi:
A TV anchor whose eyes turned green after he’s had a bit too much of Dr. Masood’s Vulcan stew.Kamran Khan:
A very dry man.Maria B.
A fashion designer who is a fan of Zaid Hamid and thus keeps getting a ‘C’ in politics. She should actually be called Maria C., or Maria Z. Or better, Maria GHB (Maria Ghuzwa-ul-Hind B).
Munawar Hussain:
A guy who believes the Taliban are bigger than Elvis.Mushtaq Minhas:
A very strange man.Nusrat Javed:
Another very strange man.Nadeem F. Paracha:
An abomination brought to life by the Elders of Zion and the illuminati to misguide innocent young Pakistani patriots and mohib-e-watan-Ghazwa-ul-Hind warriors with the help of CIA money, NASA spacesuits, and KFC Zinger Burgers. Most probably has ancient Dravidian Hindu blood running in his veins and is certainly out to destroy the super-duper Muslim master-race.Nadia Khan:
A woman who grew up watching too many Hasina Moin plays.Nawaz Sharif:
The ‘N’ in PML-N, some of whose starlets are still trying to put an ‘N’ in the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as well. Example: PTT-N. Likely to be disappointed.
PTV:
The channel only Rehman Malik and Bilawal Bhutto watch.Qazi Hussain Ahmed:
A very old man.Taliban:
Very hairy people who, in spite of being extremely obvious and ubiquitous, are still treated as ghosts by many TV hosts and their guests. They’d rather believe Elvis is alive than agree that it is the Taliban who are blowing themselves up in markets and mosques every now and then.
Example:
News Item: Taliban take responsibility for Pindi mosque blast.
Host: Who are these men?
News Item: Taliban take responsibility for Pindi mosque blast.
Host: Who can these terrorists be?
News Item: TALIBAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PINDI MOSQUE BLAST!!!
Host: Who can do such a thing? Is it the Indians? Israel? CIA? Elvis?Zaid Hamid:
A fast-talking rap artiste who stole Ali Azmat’s soul (and guitar), and turned Aag TV into the official Ghazwa-ul-Hind music channel. His biggest hits are ‘Let’s march on Delhi, y’all!’ ‘Hindus are insects, y’all,’ ‘I love wars, y’all,’ ‘M. B. Qasim is ma man, y’all,’ ‘So is Maria B, y’all,’ ‘Even though she’s a woman, y’all.’ Recently, Zaid also claimed that Ali Azmat’s tind is a UFO landing site. Ali was thrilled.
