Media trials
By: ASGHAR MAHMOOD
In modern democratic societies, the press/media is considered an important player, along with parliament, the judiciary and the executive. Social scientists argue that the structure of a modern democratic state is incomplete without the presence of an independent and free press/media.
Though the press faced many challenges after the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, during the last couple of decades the media has become a power to be reckoned with in this part of the world. In Pakistan, the media has taken upon itself the role of conducting trials also. Prosecutors, defence lawyers and accused persons appear on television talk shows to explain their respective cases as they are being tried in court. Sometimes court proceedings are also discussed in these talk shows.
This is a new development in the criminal justice system of Pakistan. The position of politicians is unique; they participate in talk shows enthusiastically and also protest against so-called media trials. Retired generals also participate in these programmes.
A few days back, viewers were astonished to see a former director general of the ISI being grilled by the anchorperson on a private TV channel in relation to the Asghar Khan case. In the Hajj corruption case, the accused minister pleaded innocent before the anchorperson during a talk show. I do not know whether this new development in the criminal justice system of Pakistan is being debated in judicial and police academies or not but it should be because it is a development that requires further exploration.
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