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All of us are aware of the importance of the media in keeping the prevailing political and geographical situation before our eyes, and letting us know about the day-to-day events of terror across the world.

However, human beings find inspiration from the events reported. If these events are linked to his or her religious thoughts and ideas, then the effects of such events would be more deep and effectual.

So, there is no doubt in the fact that the media is giving more importance to incidents of terrorism and extremism taking place in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the rest of the world.

In the last few years, major incidents of terror took place in which thousands of people had been killed or wounded but no let up is going to take place in the terrorist activities. Major reason: Widespread coverage of terrorists and their activities.

It is indeed a matter of great concern that underage boys are often used in carrying out suicide attacks. When they watch or hear militants on the TV screen being interviewed by electronic and print media, the youth get inspiration from their activities. In addition, inflammatory statements of extremist clerics further fuel their intentions to take part in terrorism, thinking it a job of heroic.

Nowadays, every channel and newspapers is flooded with the news regarding suicide attacks and bomb blasts across the country. The most harmful aspect is coverage of such incidents by international and local media, which pose a serious threat to the overall economic and political situation of the countries affected by terrorism and extremism.

1) The excessive coverage of terror acts encourages terrorists and they get attention.

2) Fanatic elements and younger youth get inspiration from these happenings.

3) Common people feel insecurity and remain in constant fear.

4) Threat of more terror activities increases.

The more excessive the media coverage of the terrorists and their activities, the more they will become famous and active.

If the media gives coverage to healthy activities and other key political issues concerning scientists, intellectuals, players, artists, inventions, reconstruction, education and other positive things, it would further the larger interests of every one as it would divert the attention of our youth from terrorism to constructive activities. This will help in creating a healthy society.

For example, there are NATO, Coalition Forces and armies of Afghanistan and Pakistan who are fighting against terrorism for nearly seven years in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the Taliban and Al-Qaeda get more strength and terrorism growing every passing day. It is because the media is giving extraordinary coverage to their activities, and thus help them to be popular and reorganized. This is a negative aspect of the media coverage.

On the contrary, when the dictator Gen. Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chohadry, lawyers launched a historical movement until the Supreme Court reinstated the CJ. Lawyers won this war by their firm stand about excessive media coverage. This was a war between democracy and dictatorship, and democracy won it. This is an example of media coverage affecting positive results.

So it proved that if the media gives coverage to healthy activities, it will create a healthy society; and, if the media gives coverage to terrorist activities, it will help the terrorists to grow their activities and it will bring the society nothing but more terrorism, extremism, violence, fear, uncertainty and insecurity.

I think media persons are a responsible community of this society who should immediately recognize this fact and stop coverage of terrorist and extremist activities.

Ignore them only one year, I assure you, the 90 percent of them will die.

Learn more about this author, Abdulhadi Hairan.
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