Barrister Roman Ahmed Awan

Relentless Social Media Trolling; A Case Study of Qasim Ali Shah

A motivational speaker, also known as an inspirational speaker, delivers speeches to motivate or inspire an audience. They often motivate their audience to look at things from a different perspective and motivate them to take positive action in their lives.
Many people have life experiences that can motivate others. However, the capacity to speak publicly about that experience is another matter entirely. Then, it requires exceptional talent to talk publicly and inspire people. Motivation begins in a mother’s lap and is garnered by a father’s arms. It moves further, and elders, teachers and protagonists encourage the masses. However, most of the motivation is voluntary and inspirational. Motivational speakers are the modern form of inspiration who are business professionals now. They sell their skills and inspire people.

Qasim Ali Shah is a motivational speaker who inspires people professionally. He sells his skills and inspires people; nothing is wrong with it. If he inspires professionally and can sell his motivation, his skills and professional integrity must remain protected and honoured. Motivational speakers are not angels or Messiahs. They sell their skills like so many do in the business world. When other skills are respected, why not respect the craft of motivation?

What is social media trolling? Trolling is when someone posts or comments online to ‘bait’ people, deliberately provoking an argument or emotional reaction. Sometimes, they say things they don’t even believe in, causing drama. In other cases, they may not agree with the views of another person or group online, so they try to discredit, humiliate or punish them. It may include online hate – personal attacks that target someone because of their race, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or personal opinions or political ideologies. The troll may also encourage mob mentality, urging others to join in the attack so it becomes a pile-on. Social media trolling may be spontaneous or targeted.https://republicpolicy.com/a-guide-how-to-use-social-media-a-revolution-without-regulation-in-pakistan/

Humour is one of the traits of the Pakistani nation. They love to exercise their freedom of humour, and there is no limit to it. Social media trolling is the norm in Pakitan. Then, it does not have a limit because there are social media monopolies in Pakistan. PTI social media volunteers seem to have a monopoly when it comes to building narratives on social media or even trolling the opposition. Coming to the Qasim Ali Shah episode, the gentleman took an interview with the former Prime Minister, Imran Khan. However, he uttered a few political comments about Imran Khan out of his motivational exuberance. It raises a question. Can Qasim Ali Shah pass on comments on Imran Khan? Freedom of expression and speech is a fundamental right in the constitution of Pakistan. Hence, he can exercise it and pass political comments about IK and any other leader. Then, political leaders and parties must exercise restraint and allow the citizens freedom of expression and speech. However, this has not been the case with Qasim Ali Shah.

Once, the renowned singer, Atif Aslam, said that the people in Pakistan only respect you when you have died. The case of Dr Amir Liaqat Hussain is another example where he was trolled mercilessly, and he finally succumbed to the trolling. Everything has a limit, so trolling is. The trolling in Pakistan is ruthless. The fundamental rights of dignity, privacy and honour are compromised, and it even destroys the family of the trolled person. The trolls hit the family, business and all, making fun of that person. It simply means that they make fun of humanism. Social trolling becomes more lethal when it is poignant, direct and targeted. Hence, it is so unfortunate when it is designed by the political parties who, otherwise, are under oath and responsibility to implement and further the cause of fundamental rights.

Pakistani cybercitizens, especially linking with PTI, called out Qasim Ali Shah after he passed some negative comments against Imran Khan after completing his interview. He said he found him rude and arrogant. Shah went on a series of interviews with other senior politicians like former CM Punjab Pervez Ilahi. While interviewing CM Ilahi, Shah commented on the personal life of Imran Khan and his three marriages. He said the person who can’t handle and protect his home and family how will run and save a country. The comments of Qasim Ali Shah are not welcome. But the way he is trolled is also not appreciated.https://republicpolicy.com/is-pti-social-media-army-invincible/

The social media volunteers of PTI are young, educated and spontaneous. They love their leader, and there is nothing wrong with him as a political inspiration. However, it does not mean that PTI trolls or others become so poignant to the people who pass on comments about IK or PTI. The political parties and leaders are inspirations and, thus, have more responsibility. If they take pride in silencing or bullying their people, it is so negative and below par. The political parties and their leaders must train and guide their followers on principles of fairness, courtesy and freedom of expression and speech. Then, it is acceptable that political parties troll their political opponents, but trolling figures like Qasim Ali Shah is a bad taste. The bad mouth is a curse, even if it is successful for the time being. Political leaders and parties inspire people on good values, not negative values, and courtesy is the principal value.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW is the greatest leader. He is our ultimate inspiration. His teachings inspire us to be ethical, courteous and polite. Surah Al-Hujurat explicitly commands us to be always courteous among people. Then, how can Imran Khan and PTI allow their supporters to be abusive when they trumpet Riast-e-Madina? It is not the fault of PTI’s spontaneous supporters but of their leadership. Then, it is not limited to PTI only. All other political parties do troll, but their numbers are so small that they are almost irrelevant on social media. However, critics blame Nawaz Sharif and PML for developing the culture of naked photos, videos, and other below-the-belt campaigns. Then, the media cell of Maryam Nawaz Sharif was also criticized for beginning the negative social media trolling when MNS was in power. Sadly, the Establishment is also accused of doing these sorts of unethical disseminations.https://republicpolicy.com/the-year-2022-exposed-all-and-sundry-in-pakistan/

Irrespective of who does it more or less, the fundamental obligation is to develop political and social behaviors on the canons of ethics and morality. The critics of Imran Khan blame the worst thing Ik has done to the political arena on making the youth of Pakistan a social media troll than utilizing their talent for some positive direction. Undoubtedly, IK is the most popular leader in Pakistan. Therefore, he should bear the responsibility of not making his social media supporters trolls. It is a meek argument that his supporters are not in his control and do it extempore. Then, he must control them as a political leader. Concludingly, the social media trolling of Qasim Ali Shah is negative and not endorsed. Let us all enjoy our freedom of expression subject to law! Political leaders and parties must educate their workers to remain polite, courteous and truthful.

The writer is a practicing lawyer at Islam Abad