We8217;re doing something big8230; for truth

Two days ago, the web site of The Friday Times was hacked and staffers blame those who 8220;weren8217;t very thrilled8221; at the increasing international concern over Sethi8217;s arrest. Every day there8217;s a call from some group or the other8211;including the local unit of the ruling PML-N party8211;asking for the magazine to be closed down.

Since Sethi8217;s arrest last week, for the staff at the editorial office on Lahore8217;s Mall Road, every day is a nervous wait for 8220;anything to happen.8221; News editor Ejaz Haider says he8217;s got threats on the phone from people who8217;ve asked him about the magazine8217;s printing press.

That8217;s the next target, says consulting editor and columnist Khaled Ahmed. 8220;They want to stop the weekly from being published,8221; he told The Indian Express. 8220;But we are working so that Friday8217;s issue comes out on time.8221;

In fact, this issue will be kind of a vindication against tough odds, a fact that is also inspiring many staffers. Morale is high, contributors have rushed to provide support to the editors. Says a staffer: 8220;There is a sense that we are actually doing something historic8230;we are upholding the truth. And are proud to be part of this.8221;

Khaled Ahmed, however, is more guarded and doesn8217;t see much reason to cheer. He says threatening articles have started to appear in local papers against the weekly and this 8220;does not bode well.8221; The government is convinced that 8220;we are unpatriotic,8221; he says.

As for the journalistic community, there8217;s already a divide over the fact that Sethi 8220;chose8221; India to air his views on Pakistan. A typical opinion is Taimur Ali Khan8217;s who wrote a letter in the Daily Dawn: 8220;What was the point of going to India and making such derogatory remarks about Pakistan? Highlighting the problems faced by Pakistan to the Indians would delight the Indians and no way solve the problems faced by the two countries.8221;

Some local journalists say that Sethi had 8220;all the freedom8221; to criticise the country from 8220;within8221; but the fact that he went to India and 8220;belittled8221; Pakistan is 8220;condemnable.8221; To this, journalists from the other side say that the India speech is only a ruse: the actual bone of contention is a BBC documentary on the wealth of the ruling family. Sethis is said to have helped them with it.

Some reason to hope has come in the form of notes of dismay and concern from several international organizations, diplomats, journalists, activists. Even World Bank president James Wolfensohn has phoned in to offer support.

This is bad news for the Pakistan Foreign Office which has taken 8220;strong exception8221; to a US State department statement condemning Sethi8217;s arrest, calling it 8220;unwarranted interference.8221;