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’.

Post Harvest Storage Stability of Kinnow Mandarin Through Applications of Silver Nanoparticles Based Coatings

Influence of carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) and guar gum based silver nanoparticles containing coatings was studied on the postharvest storage stability of kinnow mandarin (Citrus reticulata cv. Blanco) stored at 4 oC and 10 oC (85-95% relative humidity) for a period of 120 days. Physicochemical qualities, microbiological evaluations, quantities of three major aroma compounds (limonene, linalool, γ-terpinene) and sensory attributes were monitored after every 15 days of storage. Microbiological quality was assessed by monitoring the principal spoilage microbes (yeast and moulds, psychrotrophic bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus). Sensory evaluation was carried out using 9 point hedonic scale by a panel of 25 experienced penalists for peel colour, flesh colour, juice colour, fruit texture, fruit taste, fruit flavour and overall acceptability. Overall, the results revealed an increase in peel pitting, total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, pH and weight loss in the fruits, but this increase was comparatively less significant in coated fruits stored at 4 oC. Ascorbic acid, total phenolics and antioxidant activity were significantly enhanced in coated fruits stored at 4 oC. Titratable acidity was significantly decreased during storage except for coated kinnow stored at 4 oC. In control samples stored at 10 oC, a high intensity of fruit rotting and no chilling injury was observed. Total aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria, and yeast and moulds were noticed in all treatments during storage, but the growth was not significant in coated fruits at 4 oC. Staphylococcus aureus was not noticed in coated fruits stored at 4 oC, while E. coli and Salmonella were not found in any treatment during storage. Limonene, linalool and γ-terpinene concentrations were significantly reduced during storage in uncoated, and those kinnows coated and stored at 10 oC. However, the storage did not alter the qualitative aroma profile of kinnow. Hedonic scores of sensory evaluation panel appeared to correlate well with the aroma profile and manifested the GC-MS results. Based on the present study, the quality of kinnow fruit can be kept good for 4 months, when stored at 4 oC and for 2 months at 10 oC.