Blogs, the new age medium to connect with unlimited number of people around the world, play an ever-growing role in modern journalism. Blogs form a strong platform for seeking different opinions, sharing views and knowledge. Political parties also use them for campaigning, spreading rumors and propaganda. It's my routine, as well, to visit blogs and share my views. Whenever a hot or controversial topic crops up, a lot of my friends – journalists from around the world – appear online in my messenger to chat and debate. We clash, we talk, we discuss our views and at last, either I manage to convince them or they end up convincing me. Before writing an opinion piece, I usually prefer to visit different blogs to get opinions that contradict mine in order to get the bigger picture. I argue, I dig up facts and give others a chance to convince me of their views. All of this proves to be quite worthwhile. Another side of this medium is quite miserable. Many misuse or abuse this platform. I have had quite bad experiences. Recently, I had a discussion at ‘pkpolitics dot com' that not only was rude but also extremely abusive. I was not disappointed because these bloggers mistreated me in the forum, I was disappointed because our own Muslim brothers were abusing their Muslim sister just because of differences in political views. What astonished me was their sly tactics. After googling about me, they started to defame me wickedly. They called me an impostor and even attacked the Saudi nation. They were from the Punjab province and they victimized me because I studied in Karachi University. Their attitude reflected their hatred for people from Karachi and it highlights the negative feelings harbored by political elements of Punjab province in Pakistan. I felt that the Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) claim was right. PPP is the reason of unity by following the strategy of controlling Punjab and maintaining coalition with the leading party of Sindh province Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as well. The abusive bloggers objected to my earlier articles – “A salute to Musharraf” (Aug. 22) and “Talebanization of Karachi” (July 17). I was born in Saudi Arabia and I am a Saudi. Since I studied in Pakistan, I am aware of its political scenario. But obviously I have no links with any political parties because I live in a Saudi society. I write in accordance with my findings like any other foreign journalist for Pakistan. I always keep open the door of knowledge and exploration. I was surprised to see that the abusive bloggers were expert in manipulating the view of the forum as per their wish. When some visitors tried to support me, the abusive bloggers called them phony and deleted their messages. Their abuse reached the peak when they threatened me with rape! It was definitely too much for me and for other visitors with a conscience, but those bloggers had no regrets. I did not expect this from my Pakistani Muslim brothers. I was just doing my job as a journalist and visited that blog for sharing views. I finally wrote, “We all feel guilty sometimes in lives, so if u feel guilty then mail me directly at [email protected] to ask sorry and I will forgive u.” In response, I received many apologies. Among them, one blogger disclosed the identities of the abusers with some internet links. He said, “It was sad to see the way you were treated in ‘pkpolitics dot com' yesterday by some bloggers named ‘Nota' and ‘mbukhari'. I personally know Nota. He is former Jamat-e-Islami party's hooligan from Punjab University. His brother was a killer and a robber. His sister is the wife of Liaqat Baloch goonda. http://www.jamaat.org/leadership/lb.html While ‘mbukhari' (Mubashir Bokhari; also aliased Shirkuh) was doing MA in Germany last year. Link, http://www.psa.rwth-aachen.de/site/modules.php?name=PSA_Members Another visitor wrote in the blog, “Bravo sister. You'll be surprised to know that all those who write here in this forum have the same political affiliation and links to the people of the place “where restoration of judiciary” was used as a slogan to win elections (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Shareef group). I also suspect that they are funded from “Suroor palace” and “Raiwand palace” (the residence of Shareef's family). All you will read from them is negativeness and conspiracy theories. I believe these ugly literates are a greater threat to the society than Taleban.” I also received a call from a person who identified himself from Roshan TV in Pakistan. He asked my comments for the abuse I faced in an open forum of a site that provides access to popular political talk shows and news clips. I have no idea how he got my mobile number. What I have to say to these bloggers is that whether you belong to Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) or Jama'at-e-Islami, you should behave in an ethical manner. If you want your views to be heard and accepted, you should convince and prove your point in a polite and an educated manner. Abusing will only damage your party's image. Last but not least, threat of rape from a Muslim brother in an open forum answers why Dr. Afia Siddiqui was captured and sent to USA. Muslim women receive such ill-treatment because we have such brothers in our nation who brutally abuse us. But when it comes to accusation, they put the blame on their political rivals. __
