PAKISTANI MEDIA COVERAGE OF MILITANCY IN BALOCHISTAN & KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA: REGIONAL BIASES IN TERRORISM REPORTING AND REPRESENTATION OF LOCAL GRIEVANCES VS SECURITY NARRATIVES

Abstract

Pakistani media represent militancy in two conflict-affected provinces — Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Converging on local protests vs security chronicles, regional biases across media outlets (television, print, social media), how sentiment evolve over time. Using content analysis, show designs of foremost security inclosing, representation of local grievances, and biasness of media outlets. The term public perception is used when individuals or groups are thinking on or about some specific issues and events mostly where their personal interests or beliefs can hurt or addressed. The role of media is constructive for information or making positive perception for their users. Highlighting the public issues, political, socioeconomic and create the environment of awareness among people and put influence to policy makers. Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by land or territory. It has a very different socioeconomic and security issues. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa also have the security and militancy issues. Both provinces are neglected by all the policy institutions. This observed that the main stream media not give proper coverage to their security, economic, political and social issues. In this study, revealed that national media ignore the issues of Balochistan and KPK Province regarding militancy and their grievances on terrorism and focused on the narrative of security and government institutions.