Those who are not familiar with the body of dramatic works of the 1950s and 1960s in Europe, called ‘Theatre of the Absurd’, can find the same absurdity in what is happening in Pakistan since the US commandos’ action in Abbottabad and killing of Osama Bin Laden. Every state and non-state actor or character actor seems at his best in making the situation more and more absurd and ridiculous by irrational, illogical, foolish utterances and statements in the la-la land. This is typical of the absurd plays with the characteristics of broad comedy, mixed with horrific images; characters caught in hopeless situations forced to do repetitive or meaningless actions; discussions full of clichés, rhetoric, wordplay, and nonsense.

The military and particularly the ISI are under attack by some political elements and a section of media. Embarrassed and confused security establishment is embedding not only contradictory but hilarious statements. And, so are the media wizards. They are hitting fours and sixes in every side. They are in fact having a field day. Their news stories, columns, talk shows, discussions are the finest example of spinning of every sort. Perhaps, this is the first time the media in Pakistan looks independent in the sense that some anchors, who ever were humiliated by the arrogant security officials, have got the opportunity to settle scores. This is the first time that different newspapers and different TV news channels are not playing the same tune as far as the army’s and the ISI’s interests are concerned.

Reportedly, the military leadership is amazed “at the pressure being exerted by the local media supposedly controlled by the security establishment. Not all but certain anchors of leading TV Channels reportedly having links with one or the other agency are busy in the debate against security establishment”. Though, some anchor persons, perhaps after attending a briefing by the military authorities in the mid day on Monday, and their guests in the talk shows attempted to confuse the audience by denying that any operation in Abbottabad ever took place, or Bin Laden was present in the said compound and was killed during the US commando operation.

Ms Asma Sherazi, an anchor on Samaa TV, during her show put the most hilarious question to one of the guests, “Is it possible that the Americans might have captured Osama in Afghanistan and then brought to Abbottabad and killed there in an attempt to blame Pakistan?” The same question was posed to a former ISI senior officer Brig. Imtiaz by another anchor person at ARY TV show by saying, “There is an impression that the operation was took place somewhere in Afghanistan and later a drama was staged by bringing his body in Pakistan. What is your opinion?” The reply was that Osama was not such a stupid that he sat in the compound waiting for Americans to raid and to kill him.

The next day the same illogical line was repeated during majority talk shows wherein the guests were leaders and parliamentarians of Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, the inheritors of Osama’s ideology. Later, the TV reporters tried to make media-agenda as the public-agenda. They interviewed the people including children in the streets of Abbottabad and posed the same question that do you believe Osama was living in their city and is killed by Americans there and concluded that the citizens of Abbottabad termed the story of killing Osama as a fiction.

A blog presspakistan googlegroups.com largely participated by journalists in Pakistan is also in action. One blogger with clumsy language says, “The recently new move of America in Pakistan is in fact The DRAMA OF OBAMA CABINET. Anyone in this world can analyse this activity easily. All realty only knows GOD but if anyone thinks with wide mind he can reach to the purpose of this fake DRAMA. This is just the continuation of America dream to rule world”. Another blogger proudly says, “In a TV program “Islamabad Tonight” on Aaj Tv, hosted by Nadeem Malik, our Senior Analyst and CEO of upcoming media group Dr. Shahid Masood had clearly Exposed the flaws of this whole drama, there is no substantial evidence regarding killing of Osama Bin Ladin, in Abottabade, why his body was never shown or handed over to Pakistan Govt.?”

Now, this seems as the official line to establish the ‘denial’ as a truth by the media power to obfuscate the people, to make them fool. The politico-religious parties (JI, JUI-F) have come out issuing statements that “they have no proof to deny killing of Osama Bin Laden but the US has also no evidence to show what it claims”. An activist of a political party said that those groups, which thrived largely on anti-American sentiments of the people, swung into action only when they got green signal from “invisible forces”.

The print media, perhaps under the pressure of intelligence agencies, is also publishing contradictory stories. On May 4, Islamabad Dateline, a new English daily, published two stories on its front page. The lead story says an ISI official told BBC on condition of anonymity “we were totally caught by surprise. They were in and out before we could react.” Amazingly, a more funny story, wherein ‘sources’ are not identified, is published right below the lead story by its correspondent. He says a source in security establishment that American authorities had informed Pakistan’s security establishment about the raid and that they were aware of the venue and timing of the operation. According to the correspondent, another source said, “military personnel in plain clothes were deployed around Bin Laden’s sanctuary at the night of the operation to ensure safe landing and unperturbed doing of the job by American commandos”.

On the same day The News published an interesting story on its first page with the headline “Osama shot dead by colleague?” without any reference. The story goes as “
KARACHI: Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had taken oath from his sons, guards and colleagues that if the Americans ever arrested him, his aides would shoot him instantly, sources told The News on Tuesday. When US forces raided the compound where Osama was living, one of Osama’s guards and colleagues, Ahmad Shaikh, rushed to the second floor. Osama asked him if he remembered his oath. When Ahmad replied in the affirmative, Osama pulled out his pistol and gave it to Ahmad who fired a shot at Osama’s chest. Osama fell down and pointed his finger at his head. Ahmad then shot Osama in the head. In the meantime, US soldiers entered and grappled with Ahmad. They beat him up and took him along with them”.

The Express Tribune, Islamabad, published a story on May 3 with the headline “What exactly happened in Abbottabad” on its front page ‘disclosed’ that the commandos on board two helicopters had actually flown from a nearby airbase at Tarbela. “A US military C-130 transport plane, equipped with high-tech intelligence gadets, also flew from the same base to support the highly secretive operation.” For over two hours the helicopters and the C-130 aircraft hovered over the palatial mansion where Bin Laden was hiding before launching the assault, witnesses told the Express Tribune. Witnesses said that the C-130 aircraft flew over the area for over five hours even while the mission was accomplished.

A few newspapers expressed disbelief about Bin Laden’s death and the manner of the operation, dubbing it an attempt to boost the morale of US troops in Afghanistan and President Obama’s re-election campaign. Nawa-i-Waqt, an Urdu daily and supporter of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons says on May 4, “Whoever was killed in this operation - Osama or somebody else - the situation is dreadful for us. This operation in Abbottabad has left a big question mark over our sovereignty and freedom… If the US starts direct action in Pakistan, not only will our economy be affected, but our security will also face serious dangers.”

Pakistan Observer, Islamabad, an English daily owned by the author of “Islamic Atom Bomb”, Mr Zahid Malik, says, “Details are still sketchy and important links are missing in the story, and that is why there is an element of disbelief in Osama’s death… The hush-hush style has helped strengthen the belief that the tricky CIA might have even hoodwinked President Obama… There are also several other questions, including whether it is a crude attempt to create a justification for shifting the war on terror to Pakistan, besides giving a boost to President Obama ahead of presidential elections and providing adequate face-saving for beginning the planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.”

Daily Dawn, in its editorial “National embarrassment” on May 4, pointed out towards the role of media in worsening the situation. It said, “…It is also resulting in unfounded speculation and conspiracy theories, a situation worsened by some television talk show hosts and guests spreading misinformation by filling the void with their own guesswork.”

And, the theatre of the absurd goes on.

Mazhar Arif