Pakistan media provides new hope for democracy

Washington, Mar 31: The Pakistan media has emerged as a medium to educate people and to transform politicians into more responsible beings, says a report presented at a seminar in Washington.

Washington, Mar 31: The Pakistan media has emerged as a medium to educate people and to transform politicians into more responsible beings, says a report presented at a seminar in Washington.

"The media is part of the good news, and has played a role in political transformation," said Aasia Riaz, Joint Director, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency.

At the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Riaz noted, "The private media emerged as a major force in the country during the Musharraf era."

During the 2002 elections, there were only two channels but in 2008, there were more than 40 channels, according to the report.

The Dawn quoted Riaz as saying: "The media has become an important vehicle for projecting political views and agenda with neutrality and objectivity. It has a major influence over the public, particularly housewives, elites and the youths."

The report points out that the media's focus on politicians has made it easy to bring clarity before people.

"The politicians appeared more matured, more responsible which gives new hope for democracy in Pakistan," he added.

"In 2007, during the government-judiciary conflict, March 9 marked "the beginning of the end for President Musharraf. The media made the difference. All those who saw the pictures of the Chief Justice being berated by a general in uniform, were deeply concerned, said the report.

ANI