The term Akbar Allahabadi is derived from Akbar Allahabadi. Akbar Allahabadi used to lament the decline of the Muslim Ummah. Allama Iqbal was very impressed by Akbar Allahabadi and more than 133 letters are recorded between the two. The 133 letters have recently been brought to light after a century by researcher Zahid Munir Amir in “Akbar Banam Iqbal”. This poem by Allama Iqbal illustrates the status of Akbar Allahabadi:

This color is specific to Iqbal and Akbar.

Every speaker’s nature stops here.

Allama Iqbal has written, “Probably, no such eloquent personality has been born among Islamic writers till date, and I am sure that no nation in the whole of Asia has been blessed with Akbar.” The term Akbar Allahabadi became necessary because journalism is facing difficulties. The conversation started with Imran Riaz, it reached Kashif Abbasi, Habib Akram was elbowed along the way, and now this matter has reached Talat Hussain. It seems that the arrested journalist is being hanged.

It is my humble opinion that suppressing freedom of expression causes serious damage to the state. I remember that when independent media started, people believed everything on TV. People had abandoned All India Radio, BBC and Voice of America and we had reached such a height that BBC and Voice of America were broadcasting news about Pakistan through our TV channels. Ever since the overt and covert restrictions have been imposed on the media, people have turned their attention to social media as the impression is that TV or well-known media groups are under restrictions, hence propaganda is spreading, fake news is a common practice. Restrictions always give rise to covert and negative channels. How well did Ghalib say this while discussing this topic in a poem?

When you can’t find the path, you climb the drains.

My nature stops, but it flows and

The state’s goal is that by imposing sanctions, it will become stronger, fake news propaganda and hostile discourse will stop, but human psychology refutes this thinking. By imposing sanctions, the state becomes weaker, misunderstandings arise between the state and the people, relations between the provinces weaken, relations between the army and the people begin to break down, and the government’s reputation is damaged.

I firmly believe in the Quranic verse that when truth comes, falsehood flees. Is the truth of the state so weak that it cannot drive away lies as per the Quranic injunction? Why doesn’t the state make its narrative so truthful, transparent and strong that false narratives die their own death? If every actor of the state and government is as active in imposing restrictions as they are in presenting half of the truth in a forceful manner, then fake news and propaganda will be exposed on its own. But the pity is that all the restrictions are being imposed on traditional media and big names, although they may be opponents of the government or critics of some state policy, but they are neither against the army nor against the state. How well did Iqbal say:

When lightning strikes, it falls on helpless Muslims.

Even if any unknown person has been caught among those spreading fake news and propaganda, their information is not available. As a result, only poor Muslims are being tortured.

The column began with the nightingale and the bandmaster. According to Zahid Munir Amir, a commentator on Iqbal and Akbar Allahabadi, the nightingale of Akbar Allahabadi was a symbol of ancient culture and tradition. The voice of the nightingale is melodious and gentle, while the voice of the band is loud and harsh, reflecting the harshness of modern times. Iqbal has also described those who love their motherland as nightingales. This poem in Punjabi, from the tradition of Sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, is famous:

The clear minded people are the ones who have a clear mind

Qadr Phalan di Gurj Kieh Jaane Marde Khaon Wali

The meaning of this poem is clear that only a nightingale with a clear mind can know the value of flowers. What value can an eagle that eats dead people have for flowers? If this is applied to today’s media, then those who speak the truth are nightingales, while those who spread fake news and propaganda are eagles. Flowers are actually the country that is beloved by every resident of the state. Every nightingale has a different angle of beautifying their beloved flower. Sometimes the residents become bitter about the flower and even disagree, but in all these contradictory angles, love for the flower is always present in their hearts. Both those who praise the flower or those who want to improve it are nightingales. Eagles and crows are deliberately spreading lies, weakening the state and trying to overthrow it. Oh God, do not stop the birds from chirping. If you chirp and crow, you are beyond your control and ability. Now the blame is falling on the birds. Bubbles are the offerings of the state and the moon are the offerings of the people. If bubbles also fly away like thunder, what will become of the grass, flowers, and butterflies?

This humble person is sure that no one will listen to the weak voice, but shutting people’s mouths does not stop the noise coming into their ears. The answer to noise is truth and truth alone. Restrictions do not solve any problem, they create more complications, strictures have never been able to take away freedom, and they still cannot. Restrictions on the media may solve the problem temporarily, but freedom will have to be given to bring it back to normal permanently. Unnecessary restrictions on traditional TV and newspaper media are also neutralizing their truth, and the state’s helplessness regarding social media’s fake news is making them even more powerful. If traditional media gets the right to speak the whole truth, then their roars and screams will not be able to compete with the melodious sound of bubbles. No one will believe it, but in the context of the Punjabi poem by Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, I am sure that no matter how many sparrows there are, no matter how much lies reign, the sound of bubbles will come, so no matter how many sparrows chirp, no matter how much they scream from foreign countries, they will not be able to do anything.

Bulbul Wang neither sparrows call, nor water pours

The Lord has mercy on the bubbles