Pres. Musharraf, does ban on media make you look good?

By Anupreet Sandhu Bhamra

Things seem to be under control in Pakistan. So it seems if you agree with Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf.

I couldn’t help but get amused at Musharraf’s statements on his recent Europe tour.

He said everything was fine.

Mr. President, what about the political instability in the country? Calls to step down by retired Pakistani army officers? How about fair elections? Putting judges back to court? And finally answering – who killed Benazir Bhutto?

How do you answer that? Or do away with these questions without hiding?

Pakistani government seems to have found an easy way out, at least, at home. A recent news report on BBC.com talks of the “missing TV presenters”. After the emergency rule was lifted, the TV channels are on air, minus the presenters who expressed opinions or could do so.

As President Musharraf continues to try and build an image of a leader-in-control, shaking hands with leaders all over Europe, he forgot the first stop of public relations – the media, especially the homegrown media.