The role of media does not change with the change of regime. Rather, it owes a crucial role when most of the power and authority is rested with a single person or institution. This was noted during a dialogue on The Media and current crisis, organised by JRC Islamabad chapter in a local hotel on the 24th of October. 

Journalists from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad participated in the event and threshold out the issues related with journalist community in the wake of recent political changes in the country. The objective was to appreciate the ways as to how media can correspond to sensitive situation such as the present one.

Dr Muhammad Tanveer and Amjad Bhatti from JRC introduced the discussion by pointing to the recent blockade of information to media and quickly opted self-censorship by the newspapers, which may hinder information gathering and dissemination processes. 

While speaking on the occasion Ahmad Hasan Alvi of daily Dawn, told the participants that the institution of editorship has collapsed in Pakistani journalism and the crisis of competence is giving leverage to the elite circles who exploit journalist community for their own petty interests. Journalists should not unnecessarily eulogise state managers. They need to institute a well-informed criticism whenever anyone from the power circle deviates from its proclaimed agenda.

Nasim Zehra, a free lance journalist and political analyst, said that media is directly related to masses and it provides accountability mechanisms, which are essential to appreciate the potentials of self-corrective measures for both state and society. She said that now while the authority is attributed to one person in Pakistan, media should play more vigilant role to question how the power is being exercised in this country. She said that all the politicians and political parties have become an opposition of the regime by default, so media organisations should also report them freely and objectively.

Nasim observed that there is a scarcity of information about recent national events, and to cope with this crisis media organisations must put an active demand for opening up of the information sources for journalists.

Nusrat Javed, senior journalist from daily The News, came out  with a firm view that military rule and freedom of press cannot go side by side. He apprehended that within next couple of months press would be attacked. He also warned journalists to better prepare themselves to fight against the regime that’s potentially adverse to the press and journalists.

Free lance journalist, Talaat Hussain, said that it is very hard presently for media to have a complete access to necessary information about the state and public affairs in the wake of recent changes on October . Because of the blockade of information sources journalists are obliged to bank upon speculations and rumours which are cultivating a situation of general mistrust and vagueness among the readers, he added.

Talaat while speaking on the topic stressed that the pattern of information dissemination should be more descriptive and facts-based instead of being analysis and speculation. He also agreed with the participants that journalists should not withdraw the right of positive criticism in any case.

Abuzar Wasim was of the view that the journalist community itself should condemn the newspapers, which have imposed self-censorship, and the journalists who have made an overnight summer-sault. He also deplored journalists who surrender their freedom. This would only give a leverage to power centres to curb freedom, he added.
Farhat Ullah Babar noticed that the traditional role of media to educate, entertain and inform the people is in danger and media should realise that professional credibility be protected in the context of recent operation. Pervaiz Shaokat and Fauzia Shahid told that working journalists will fight against any repressive law and no compromise will be allowed to harness the press freedom in

• Khurram Kamal, 
• Aslam Butt, 
• Javed Rana, 
• Shoaib Bhutta and 
• Sajjad Anwar also spoke on the occasion.