Pakistan Fights Suitcase Radio Stations

Extremists use mobile equipment to spread propaganda

Muhammad Aslam Khan (aslam)

Published 2006-07-28 20:03 (KST) 

Pakistani authorities have over the past 10 days closed down over 150 radio stations broadcasting illegally without licenses and being run mostly by extremist religious clerics in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in the remote border region with Afghanistan (F.A.T.A.).

These areas were given special constitutional protections by the founder of Pakistan, Qauid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and are not under the same laws as the rest of Pakistan.

Traditionally, the governor, who represents the president of Pakistan or the federal government, has played a pivotal role in running the affairs of F.A.T.A., which are dealt with according to tribal traditions and laws.

The extremist clerics see themselves as the self-appointed interpreters of Islam. They are mostly semi-literate and conservative with inclinations towards Osama bin Laden. They have launched a hate campaign against the U.S. and against the policies of President Pervez Musharraf.

These fanatics belong to the mainstream sunni sect of Islam, but they are used to quarreling with each other on interpretations of Islamic injections.

The clerics are able to broadcast using suitcase-sized F.M. radio stations, which can be easily installed on a bicycle or motorbike. This technology dates back to the Soviet era and equipment can be found throughout central Asia. Suitcase radio stations are easily available in Peshawar, the capital of the North Western Frontier Province.

According to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (P.E.M.R.A.) these F.M. broadcasts have spread religious extremism and anti-state sentiments, notably among Pashtun tribes near the Afghan border.

Two million tribal people are able to listen to these suitcase F.M. radio stations, which transmit crystal clear sound quality. However, the broadcasts are of no interest to ordinary Pakistanis elsewhere.

Al Qaeda has no direct link with these religious clerics, however they are Taliban sympathizers and supporters of Osama bin Laden.

The raids have been conducted by P.E.M.R.A., working in tandem with local officials in the semi-autonomous tribal areas over the last six months.

"Our regulations do not extend to the tribal areas. But we are coordinating with local authorities and police to jam or shut down these illegal stations," said Muhammad Saleem, chief spokesman for P.E.M.R.A.

About 100 stations have been operating illegally and transmitting their own religious and political views. "The rest of the stations were closed down by the local authorities after they got complaints some were fanning sectarian hatred and anti-state feelings," he said.

At least 26 people were killed in the tribal region in March 2006 after clashes between factions led by rival mullahs. The clashes occurred after a cleric Mufti Munir Shakir used a radio station to incite tribesmen to attack Afghan families settled in the Khyber area.

U.S. funded, Internews Network, an international media development NGO that works in Pakistan with licensed F.M. stations to build professional journalism standards and develop technical production skills, has welcomed the step.

"The crackdown by P.E.M.R.A. on illegal F.M. stations is a welcome step," Adnan Rehmat, the country director of the Pakistan office of Internews Network said, when contacted. "People or groups illegally using this technology and broadcasting without the permission of P.E.R.M.A. must be stopped," he added.

According to Rehmat, the problem of illegal F.M. radio stations can only be permanently solved and neutralized if P.E.M.R.A. issues licenses for the tribal areas. He said that the government must bring the tribal areas within the jurisdiction of P.E.R.M.A. so they could issue licenses to genuine parties, as they have done in the rest of the country.

"The government of Pakistan must understand that people want to hear news, especially about their surroundings, environment and issues that affect them, in their own language," Rehmat said. "F.M. radio is a beautiful solution to this as has been proven by the successful track across Pakistan."

According to Rehmat, licensed broadcasters are regulated under the law and P.E.M.R.A. ordinances, which prohibit hate speech and extremist sentiments on air. Issuing licenses will ensure that people get news and information about their issues in their own language which is neither defamatory nor inflamed speech.