When Intuition overtakes Investigation

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I don’t so much mind that newspapers are dying-it’s watching them commit suicide that pisses me off. - Molly Ivins

Soon after the recent mumbai terror attacks in India, immediately after the lone terrorist in the attacking group, Ajmal Amir Kasab was captured by the Indian authorities on the spot of the carnage, it was revealed by him that he and the entire gang of terrorists that attacked Mumbai were from Pakistan, were trained and armed in Pakistan and allowed safe passage to India from Pakistan.

The Aftermath

What happens next?

Pakistan fearing a backlash from India and the international community, denies the allegation that any Pakistani nationals were involved in the attack. Well, that’s how the state of Pakistan has been reacting ever since the dawn of its history, and any person with even half a brain does not need to be given any proof about the origin of terrorists in Pakistan, for it is so obvious! Be it 9/11 in US or 7/11 in UK or numerous attacks in India including the recent 26/11, the roots of these attacks are traced back to Pakistan or people of Pakistani origin. Madeline Albright, the former US Secretary of State has rightly called Pakistan, an International Migraine

I definitely sympthasize with those Pakistanis, who are against terrorism, who want their country to be a vibrant democracy, and who are patriotic about their country and its pride, just like people in any other country. But their love for their country is definitely overshadowed by the actions of terrorist groups and their innefficient administration and authorities. Unless and until the Pakistani common man revolts against terrorism and fundamentalism in their soil, there is little hope for Pakistan.

But what about Pakistani media? Being a local media it has greater opportunities of reporting on the facts on the ground. But look what happens when optimistic intuition overtakes realistic investigation, and journalism becomes imaginative fairy tale in a fancy world.

Image: Ajmal Amir Kasab on his killing spree in Mumbai before he was caught by the Indian authorities.

Soon after the Indian authorities confirmed that the lone captured terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab was from Pakistan, this is how the Pakistani media reacted saying The misplaced hype about Faridkot. This leading Pakistani daily, revealed that
There was no such person from that place in Pakistan, and that India and the world media target Pakistan without any evidences.

I mean, what more evidence you need when the terrorist has been captured on the spot of crime, and he reveals his nationality and origin with conclusive evidence? For a local media, how long should it really take to track down the claims? Isnt it as simple as going by the address mentioned by the terrorist and validating the same? But look how the Pakistani daily denied the origins of the terrorist with all fancy stories. The very tone of the article shows that its writer wants to live in a world of denial and doesn’t even wants to entertain the thought of a Paksitani connection.

Look at this particular line in the Pakstani daily.
The media, however, conveniently avoids mentioning that there is also a town with the same name in the Indian state of Punjab.
Now why on earth should the media look at an Indian village of this name, when the terrorist himself has said that he is from the village in Pakistan? What is so convenient for the media about hiding it?

The International Investigation

Look what happened after that. An UK based daily has now revealed with conclusive evidence that the terrorist infact hails from the mentioned place in Pakistan, and his mother cried the moment she watched his pictures on the television!

To quote this article in the Observer, ” Finally one villager confirmed [to the journalist] what was going on: ‘You’re being given misinformation. We’ve all known from the first day [of the news of the terrorist attack] that it was him, Ajmal Amir Kasab. His mother started crying when she saw his picture on the television.’ “

The report in The Observer also says that, “the villager who turned whistleblower said that local religious clerics were brainwashing youths in the area and that Lashkar-e-Taiba’s[The Terrorist Group accused of the Mumbai attack] founder, Hafiz Sayeed, had visited nearby Depalpur, where there were ‘hundreds’ of supporters.”

The report also says that, “Shown a picture of Ajmal, the villager confirmed that he was the former Faridkot resident” ! What more proof does one need?

Now look at the difference between the investigations by the Pakistani Daily, and the investigations by this London based daily. Which one do you call investigative journalism? The Pakistani daily inspite of having the advantage of being a local media either failed to nail down the truth or did not want to expose the truth. Now tell me. What is misplaced? and Which is the hype?

Conclusion

Hope the Pakistani media behaves more responsibly in the future and maintains the spirits of investigative journalism. Look at the Indian media, which doesnt shy away from reporting it 24/7 even when any Indian connections are found during the investigations.

To quote Joseph Pulitzer, the journalist who established the famous Pulitzer Prizes , “Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”