Conspiracy politics bury resistance journalism
When I entered journalism in the nineties, the union played a very active role. Khyber Union of Journalists or KHUJ is the only major and independent forum of journalists active in Peshawar, although this organization exists today, but the performance is not as effective as it used to be. What is the reason? We will talk more about it.
Shaukat Yousafzai was then the president of KHUZ and he was probably elected KHUJ president two or three times. During his tenure, the union raised the issue of journalists in every forum and played an effective role, but perhaps Shaukat Yousafzai had other goals as he later developed a relationship with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan while creating the same organization. , he bid farewell to journalism by joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Currently, he holds the post of Minister of Industries, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In those days when journalists were prosecuted, arrested or newspaper owners faced any problem, Khyber Journalist Union would immediately stand up and protest strongly in every forum. At this time, the government also listened to the voice of the union.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists or PFUJ was also considered a major functional platform at the Centre. By this time the central organization was completely free from internal factions and stigmas due to which its voice was considered a great force throughout the country.
Undoubtedly, PFUJ’s activities were not limited to raising voice for journalists but also played a key role in restoring democracy during the era of martial law and military dictatorship which is now a golden chapter in our history.
Even under the military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, journalists had to bear the brunt of imprisonment, flogging, torture and firing. It was a golden age of journalism where journalists not only raised their voice for the sanctity of the pen, but also fought shoulder to shoulder with the political leadership against military dictators.
In the unionism of the time, the subsidiaries were training centers where junior journalists were trained in all subjects besides journalism. Whether the journalists of the time knew anything else or not, they were at least well aware of the freedom of the press and its struggles. As the central organization was strong, its sub-branches in the provinces were also very active.
Until a few years ago in Peshawar, KHUJ’s example was like a dead horse. However, if there was even a slight movement of his inert body at this time, it might have been after Fida Khattak became President, but the earlier dynamic character was not seen during his tenure either.
Journalist organizations across the country have been going through a major crisis for the past few years, with the PFUJ at the center splitting into several factions. As the central organization has had many divisions, so have many parties formed in the provinces. But the role of Peshawar journalists in this regard is so commendable that they saved the KHUZ from a split despite the many factions at the centre. But now it seems that its existence is also under serious threat.
On the other hand, press clubs did not have much role in solving the problems of journalists compared to the unions at that time. Mainly, however, the press club’s mandate focused on entertaining members or persecuting more active journalists.
But now for the last two decades the situation has completely reversed. Conspiracy politics and press club money have greatly limited the role of the Peel and Furvani Unions.
At least at the Peshawar level, all attention is on the press club. Even in the press club elections every year, candidates have been using all kinds of political and government influence as well as financial resources to achieve success.
As veteran journalist Mazhar Abbas has rightly said, the politics of conspiracy has changed the narrative of journalists, i.e. apparently undermining their narrative of resistance.
Obviously, the biggest disadvantage of this change is that it has compromised the freedom of the press for journalists and the narrative of training new journalists in the field.
Well, we have to acquire the plot in a legitimate way and then at a time when almost half of the five hundred members of the Peshawar Press Club are facing unemployment and the media is also in a situation where daily journalists are forced. Dismissed from their organization.
But the question is, is our total universe now about getting plots and taking opportunities or saving journalistic ethics and values?
People often ask us the question that the journalist who takes plots and facilities from the government can expose the corruption of the government or ministers? Can such journalists ever give the government a hard time or bridge their praise?
When the government announces the plot, it takes at least 10 years for the project to materialize and during that time only the plot plot is played in union and press club elections every year, all the politics revolve around it.
It is a bitter truth that commercialism in journalism has diverted journalists from their original purpose and thus their journalistic organizations have also become commercial institutions. Previously, each major city had a union that served as the representative organization for all journalists, but now each metropolitan city has more than a dozen parallel organizations in addition to the union, each with its own agenda. The presence of these parallel organizations made the status of the union insignificant.
In recent times, new factions have been emerging in press clubs, whose manifestos do not mention any journalistic narrative, but the fight against intrigue is their top agenda. Some youths have even succeeded in this goal. Now think, tomorrow these young people will take the reins of press clubs and unions, will they be able to fight the case of journalism if they start fighting politics by gaining privileges?
Source: FGN
” 
” 
” 
” 
