Execution of Mumtaz Qadri & Urdu Print Media of Pakistan: Exploring Consistency and
Discord Frames in Editorializing of Blasphemy & Freedom of expression
Tasaddaq Hussain Qureshi
Gomal University D.I.Khan
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Pervez
Gomal University D.I.Khan
Dr. Shabbir Hussain
Bahria University Islamabad
Abstract
This paper focuses on the frames; through which execution of Mumtaz Qadri’s editorialized by the Urdu print media of Pakistan. Eighteen editorials on the selected topic, from March 1, 2016, to April 1, 2016, are selected as a sample from five leading national newspapers viz. Jang, Nawa-e-Waqt, Ausaf, Ummat, and Islam. Freedom of expression and blasphemy depicted through consistency and discord frames is explored with the help of Galtung’s peace and violence journalism indicators. The content analysis approach is applied, with the Framing theory providing theoretical background. It has been found that Media portrayed the issue through discord frame as a dominant frame, which approved the notion of Galtung that media usually portray the conflicts through violence journalism frame. It also approved that the media have not continued framing by uniform pace. They play an active role in opinion formation of a public. With the passage of time media changed their framing tone from discord to the consistency frames. This proves that media is conscious to enjoy the right of freedom of expression with reference to the blasphemy, in such a volatile situation.
Keywords: Mumtaz Qadri, Execution, violence, journalism. discord
