Pakistan media trying to break taboos

HYDERABAD: The media in Pakistan is slowly, but steadily, going against the popular beliefs and is finding its going tough,says Suhail Warraich, anchor at the Geo TV and senior editor of the Jang, one of the oldest Urdu dailies in Pakistan.Speaking on the sidelines of the World Urdu Editors Conference here on Friday, Warraich, known for his quick wit, says, “We try to break taboos and are ready to face the music.But there are certain boundaries which need to be respected in all cultures.For example, religious sensibilities need to be taken care of, whether in India or Pakistan.But where there is a conflict of the old with the new, we gradually try to break out of the mould and advocate modernism.” The political instability in Pakistan has not stopped the media from criticising the role of powers-that-be, in sharp contrast with India where the disclosure of Radia tapes shocked few.“The third world countries understand the value of freedom.The anti-establishment stance many of the media houses in Pakistan are proud to flaunt has emerged out of the experience that the establishment is usually formed against the wishes of the people and functions against it as well.Since India has never faced a similar situation, the media here rarely offends the government here,” he said.