Media Framing of the ‘War on Terror’: The Case of Urdu-Language Elite Press During the Dictatorial Regime in Pakistan

This research is focused on press-government relationship on the issue of ‘War on Terrorism’ (WoT) during the dictatorial regime led by the then military ruler General Pervez Musharraf who remained in power till 2008 in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Global war against terrorism, generally known as ‘war on terror’ was actually started by the United States of America in the aftermath of 9/11 episode in 2001. Pakistan, on US demand, had not only become an important ally of the grand alliance formed under the umbrella of the United States but had also adopted the role of a frontline state just to fight the war against terrorism (WoT) alongside the war allies. Generally mass media have the potential to influence public opinion and help reshape the states’ policies on different issues. Likewise, mass media of Pakistan also took an active part in the war either by going alongside the then dictatorial government or against it. This research is based on examining the way the Urdu language elite press, the most popular mass media of Pakistan, covered the dictatorial regime of President General Pervez Musharraf with regard to its policy on the issue of ‘WoT’. Main purpose of this study is to know the nature of relationship between the Urdu-language elite press and the dictatorial government of Gen Musharraf in Pakistan with regard to their policy positions on ‘WoT’ from 2001 to 2008. Three newspapers including daily Jang, daily Nawa-I-Waqt, and daily Pakistan, considered to be representatives of the Urdu-language elite press of Pakistan, were selected for this study. The method used to measure the phenomenon is called framing where contents of the selected dailies were measured both quantitatively and qualitatively. Data were collected through systematic sampling method, while coding sheet was used as a tool for data collection. Unsigned main editorials of the selected newspapers were analyzed to examine the nature of relationship existed between the two entities i.e. The Urdu-language elite press, and the dictatorial government of Gen Pervez Musharraf, on the issue of ‘WoT’ in Pakistan. The results revealed that the selected elite newspapers, in general, remained critical to the dictatorial regime on the issue of ‘WoT’. The findings also revealed that daily Nawa-I-Waqt remained highly critical to the government as compared to its other contemporaries i.e. Daily Jang, and daily Pakistan. It was also revealed that the Urdu-language elite press while framing the ‘War on Terror’ remained somewhat supportive and rarely neutral to the dictatorial regime on it policy on ‘WoT’.

Complexation and Characterization of B-Sitosterol With Metals

Scientific studies expose that the plant sterols in diet supports optimal functioning of immune system. β-sitosterol is a plant sterol which is a natural micro-nutrient found in the cells and membranes of all oil producing plants. It has been proven to be a safe, natural and effective nutritional supplement and has shown amazing potential benefits in many diverse applications. The medicinal application and uses of metals and metal complexes has been subjected to extensive research in recent years. Essential metals when present in excess and Heavy metals have toxic effects on living organism and these effects may be reduced by metal complexation. It prompted us to study the synthesis of β- sitosterol - metal complexes by using different methodologies. Eight new biologically active metal complexes of trace elements such as (Co (II), Cu (II), Fe (III), Mg (II), Ni (II) and Zn (II) and toxic metals such as Pb (II) and Pd (0) have been synthesized and characterized through various techniques such as elemental analysis, Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), UV/visible Spectroscopy (UV/visible), Mass Spectrometry (EIMS), Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Electron Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). From the analytical data, the stoichiometry of all the complexes was found to be 1:2 (metal: ligand) ratio with general formula ML2X.nH2O while βs-Fe complex showed 1:3 metal to ligand ratio having general formula ML3X. The IR spectral data predict that the βs behave as a bidentate ligand with hydroxyl group (OH) and C=C (double bond) groups pointing towards the central metal ion. The UV/visible technique suggested an octahedral geometry of the complexes. In βs-Pd complex, the reagent Tris (dibenzylideneacetone) dipallidum (Pd2 (DBA)3) attached to the ligand (βs) in the form of adduct. The presence of Dibenzylideneacetone (DBA) in the molecule was supported by its IR, EIMS and 1H-NMR data. The AAS data and EDS features indicated the presence and percentage of the elements existing in the ligand and in the metal complexes. The SEM images of ligand and all the metal complexes exhibited different morphological structures due to the interaction of metal with ligand to arrange in the fixed geometry of the complexes. The TG analysis of the complexes are in good agreement with the proposed formulation. The ligand and its metal complexes were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The results showed that the metal complexes were more active than the ligand (βs). The βs-Fe and βs-Ni complexes exhibited greater antibacterial activities having zone of inhibition ranging between 19-29, 14-33 mm (MIC = 10-96, 52-114 mg/mL) in gram positive and gram negative bacteria respectively. Whereas βs-Co, βs- Cu and βs-Fe complexes were found to possess remarkable antifungal activity having zone of inhibition ranging between 12-30 mm (MIC = 32-140 mg/mL). The βs-Pd complex showed least antimicrobial activity against all the applied bacterial and fungal strains. The metal ion present in the complexes accelerate the anti-microbial activity and the metal complexes are more effective than ligand in term of their biological activity.