tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post1822125165173298859..comments2008-12-13T23:40:06.201-05:00Comments on CHUP! (Changing Up Pakistan): The Deportation of Nicholas SchmidleCHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-31232439125460048712008-01-17T22:50:00.000-05:002008-01-17T22:50:00.000-05:00Oz, I think that's a really good point. It's a bit...Oz, I think that's a really good point. It's a bit sad how pessimistic I've become while reviewing news stories that human portrayals are often overlooked. I think I should try post a brief on positive coverage of Pakistan for once :), which is sadly few and far between - positive news is rarely newsworthy.CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]https://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-18424108249899081962008-01-17T22:44:00.000-05:002008-01-17T22:44:00.000-05:00While the issues addressed in the blog and the sev...While the issues addressed in the blog and the several comments above are obviously important, it's the human aspect of the story and the power of hospitality that really left an impact on me. <BR/><BR/>Despite witnessing the conflict, and undergoing extreme stress the BBC article states that Nicholas’ “eyes almost light up when asked about the people of Pakistan.” The reporter asked Nicholas andAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-54809357489250612002008-01-17T15:04:00.000-05:002008-01-17T15:04:00.000-05:00To address what Fahad had written below about "the...To address what Fahad had written below about "the media IS allowed to operate freely" may be concievable in theory, but when there are no laws on the books protecting journalists then that does not ring true. The exact reason why the government is able to shut down "anti-establishment" media is because there is a lack of laws protecting the media. If there are any laws, they are not enforced, soAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-15295464302646120642008-01-17T12:19:00.000-05:002008-01-17T12:19:00.000-05:00I've just read Nicholas Schmidle's article and ove...I've just read Nicholas Schmidle's article and overall I was very impressed. And like other posters I, too, feel that the decrease in press freedom is regrettable and definitely does not bode well for the country. I say decrease because I don't actually agree that Pakistan has ever had a completely free press. I remember sitting by the pool at the Canadian Club seeing a gigantic steel Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-3145746266536331852008-01-16T20:23:00.000-05:002008-01-16T20:23:00.000-05:00I find this story very interesting and telling bec...I find this story very interesting and telling because the media IS allowed to operate fairly freely in Pakistan-- but the moment it reports something unsettling to the government it is stifled (you could call it the Geo effect!!!).<BR/><BR/>In terms of Schmidle's article.<BR/>I think while at a personal level religious inclination has grown in the country, the religious political parties have Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17851599845093935749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-6103595670261730962008-01-16T15:23:00.000-05:002008-01-16T15:23:00.000-05:00Hi Shaheryar-Thanks so much for your comments...no...Hi Shaheryar-<BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for your comments...none of the op-ed articles have been posted yet - one should be posted by a contributor in the next few days. However, am still looking for people to be contributors would love to read your work - the email I just set up is: changinguppakistan@gmail.com. If you could send a writing sample or one of your pieces there, I can take a look at CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]https://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-22013463668356923012008-01-16T13:21:00.000-05:002008-01-16T13:21:00.000-05:00Forgot the links here they are:Ratings: http://www...Forgot the links here they are:<BR/><BR/>Ratings: http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fop/2007/pfscharts.pdf<BR/><BR/>Methodology: http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fop/2007/fopmethod2007.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-44797857580820704212008-01-16T13:19:00.000-05:002008-01-16T13:19:00.000-05:00I don't agree with the perception that media has b...I don't agree with the perception that media has been free in Pakistan. While it is not as stifled as it is in some Arab states, that is hardly an indicator of freedom. The recent Freedom House report of Clobal Press Freedom reported Pakistan as scoring a rating of 63 and sharing the 139 spot with Sri Lanka and Qatar (deeming Pakistan Not Free-a few points away from Partly Free).The ratings are Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-25860436650716121712008-01-16T12:49:00.000-05:002008-01-16T12:49:00.000-05:00I've always been amazed at the amount of freedom (...I've always been amazed at the amount of freedom (well, until recently) given to the media in Pakistan. The fact that they've thrown out a foreign reporter is a big deal...and rather scary.<BR/><BR/>On a humourous note, we were in the car one day during our recent Isloo trip listening to City FM and they were playing a whole series of rock songs on the theme of lies and lying...all dedicated to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-37023726958011934532008-01-16T11:45:00.000-05:002008-01-16T11:45:00.000-05:00What is significant about Pakistan relative to mos...What is significant about Pakistan relative to most Middle Eastern countries is that despite our authoritarian regime, we did until recently have a free media. The press in Pakistan, especially recently, has been instrumental in this call for change. The subsequent crackdown on the press has also been further detrimental to positive perceptions of Musharraf and his government. I think it would beCHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]https://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-59887795698279026962008-01-16T10:56:00.000-05:002008-01-16T10:56:00.000-05:00Simply put, the media has a critical role in a any...Simply put, the media has a critical role in a any functioning democracy. The media acts as an independent 'check' on government. Unlike the actors within the classic governmental checks and balances system (the legislature, the courts, and the executive) the media acts independently from these bodies. One of the most important aspects of a true democracy is the free flow and dissemination of nhassanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01649950842869258983noreply@blogger.com