Following the army crackdown on the offices of the daily 'Dawn' in Karachi, a sense of insecurity has gripped the Pakistani media which feels that like all military dictators General Pervez Musharraf too might be becoming impatient with journalists. From allegations of 'lifafa journalism' to crackdowns by the military, Pakistani media has faced all kinds of pressures in General Musharraf's rule and now feels stifled fearing that the tough measures might prove too costly for the government as well as the media. There is a growing feeling in the media in Pakistan that like all military dictators, Gen Musharraf too might be becoming impatient with the freedom the Pakistani media enjoys. Media circles in Islamabad say that given the nature of the regime and the unfettered powers the general enjoys, he could always choose to crackdown on the institution. However, some observers put the blame on the General's media managers. ''They are trying to shift the blame onto the press and perhaps are egging the General on to hide their own incompetence. This is a dangerous policy and the General must not concede to this tactic,'' said a senior journalist who wished to remain anonymous fearing action by the military.
The feeling of insecurity has been aggravated by the September 27 raid on Dawn offices in Karachi when an army inspection team accompanied by a representative of the Government of Sindh province,swooped down on the offices of Pakistan's largest circulated daily. Bureau Report