Suhail Warraich says Pakistan needs evolution, not revolution

DUBAI: Suhail Warraich, a senior journalist, television host, analyst and media personality, believes in evolution rather than revolution and said that Pakistan also needs to evolve to bring a positive change.

The senior journalist, whose career spans more than four decades, was the guest speaker on a discussion titled ‘Challenges facing journalism in a changing world’ that was organised by the Jammu Kashmir Journalist Forum — a representative journalist organisation of Kashmiris in Dubai.

Raja Asad Khalid, the organiser of the discussion, performed moderator duties while the JKJF General Secretary Raja Shujaat expressed his gratitude to the guests for their presence.

The event was attended by Kashmiri journalists active in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.

Explaining the difference between revolution and evolution in societies, Suhail Warraich said that revolution sheds human blood and for centuries this blood remains as a wound in the society. “On the other hand, the process of evolution develops over time after deliberate conscious changes and this change is permanent and sustainable,” he said.

Suhail Warraich, who became a household name with his programme ‘Aik Din Geo Kay Saath’, said that Pakistan and India had made progress on the Kashmir issue on several occasions, but now the matter has once again reached zero point.

He said on several occasions intellectuals, journalists and civil society members of the region have made efforts for peace and friendship between the two neighbours.

Instead of criticising the role of social media in journalism, he praised digital journalism. “Social media has played an important role in conveying information,” he said. “However, journalists should keep impartiality in mind while providing news and information. This is key to establishing and maintaining credibility of journalism.”

Talking about Pakistan’s political crisis, Suhail Warraich said that the announcements of political parties to hold general elections on time are welcome, “but the elections seem more likely in February next year than this November”.

Commenting on the political affiliations and political situation of overseas Pakistanis, Suhail Warraich said that overseas Pakistanis are keen to have their problems solved as quickly as they are done abroad and they are longing for an immediate change. “But when they see or experience the difficulties, they get disappointed,” he said.

The seasoned journalist said that the future of Pakistan lies in the democratic system and the 75-year history of the country has proved this. He said strictures have been temporary while public opinion is dismissing the coercive system.

 

At the end of the discussion, Raja Asad Khalid and JKJF General Secretary Raja Shujaat presented a bouquet to Suhail Warraich while the Kashmiri journalists thanked the honourable guest.