Molana and Media

It seems like an endless debate has sparked among the social media community of whether who is right and who is wrong. Everybody seem to judge each other as if God himself gave them that right to do so, and maybe I am a part of this debate as well. Yes, I am talking about the recent controversy regarding the Islamic scholar Molana Tariq Jameel. During a live broadcast of a fund raising campaign by the PTI government for fighting against the Corona virus. Attended by Prime minister Imran Khan and some of the most well renowned journalists of the country. Molana Tariq Jameel was taken on video call in the end of the event for a collective prayer for the nation in this time of global health crisis.

Controversy took place when Molana blamed the whole nation for what we are facing today, he blamed the previous corrupt leaders of the country for Pakistan's economic and administrative failures and portrayed the current prime minister and his government as angles or saviors of the country. As a free citizen of Pakistan under the fundamental human rights of the constitution of 1973. The the law provides every citizen of this democratic country with every kind of political liberty and freedom even if you are a religious scholar. Morally and legally speaking formulating an opinion in politics is a fundamental and basic right of a every human being under the international law and no one has the right to question or judge him. But surprisingly the attitude of our well known journalists who always preach and idealize the western democracy and their social and political liberty in their talk shows bashed Molana. It was very odd to see Hamid Mir and Malick criticizing Molana for his political liking and disliking.

Regarding the comments of Molana about the sins of our nation increasing day by day, there is no need of getting offended if its the bitter truth. Are we going to forget the fact that not so long ago offensive and vulgar posters were raised in the streets of Pakistan supporting consensual sex(zina) and legalizing homosexuality, are we also going to forget the fact that Pakistani film industry is getting more and more sexual and vulgar day by day, have we also forgotten the fact that in this society there are evil men who rape underage girls because they cannot control their sexual desires and are we also forgetting the fact that pharmacy owners artificially increased the the price of face masks, hand sanitizers and hand wash to gain unjust profit as soon as Corona virus hit Pakistan. Are these not sins? are these not the corrupt acts committed by this nation? Are previous leaders not responsible for Pakistan's miserable situation of the present? The only ones who have the right to get offended by Molana's prayers are the ones mentioned above, the corrupt, the dishonest, the deceitful, the unjust and the criminals.

The social media community has also been divided into two sides, one group of the community is supporting Molana and the others criticizing Molana in support of the journalists. Even though Molana Tariq Jameel apologized to the whole nation and especially the media community for his "slip of tongue" but I personally do not see any valid reason for this apology. Molana also mentioned about a media house owner without mentioning his name who acknowledged the fact that media lie all the time and it is part of their job to lie. It is no rocket science to know that media does lie whether its Pakistan's third world media or western media. That is the reason there'a a media theory that states "negativity sells". And not forgetting the fact that a video of Hamid Mir has gone viral on social media recently where he is categorically stating that media is not showing even 10% of the truth. We must have tolerance and patience when someone differs from our opinion. That is only when we will become a modern tolerant and civilized society and nation as a whole of the 21st century.

    

Author: Muhammad Asim Khan

A Mass Communication student of National University of        Modern    Languages Islamabad who often writes on international relations   and particular interest in Af-Pak affairs.