Why Pakistani media is not reporting the Rawalpindi blast

According to Pakistani twitter users, yesterday a blast rocked Rawalpindi military hospital. According to the twitter users, at least 10 people have been injured in the blast. Many twitter users shared videos purportedly of the blast site.

Huge #blast at Military Hospital in #Rawalpindi, #Pakistan. 10 injured shifted to emergency.
Jaish-E-Mohammad Chief Maulana Masood Azahar is admitted here.Completely Media blackout by Army. Media asked Strictly not to cover this story@a_siab @nidkirm @GulBukhari @mazdaki pic.twitter.com/sTIYrJ7sAn
— Ahsan Ullah MiaKhail (@AhsanUlMiakhail) June 23, 2019

JUST IN: Huge blast reported from Military Hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. At least 10 injured shifted to emergency ward. Reason unknown. Some indicate there was a gas leak. pic.twitter.com/bS7rZVYGAP
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) June 23, 2019

Blast in Military Hospital Rawalpindi, near AFIC… hope everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/xTnLVSucir
— Ali Moeen Nawazish (@am_nawazish) June 23, 2019

#CMH Rawalpindi Allah Khair . Looks like a blast . !! pic.twitter.com/THnll3GV0X
— Ali Axhar ? (@ali_axhar) June 23, 2019

Blast near AFIC Sadar Rawalpindi pic.twitter.com/AFCpGfHDfL
— Siraj ul haq (@sirajulhaq) June 23, 2019

Curiously enough, Pakistani media did not report any such blast.

The reason for this media blackout was soon pointed out by twitter users.

JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar was admitted in this military hospital. Also, Pakistani media houses are ordered not to cover this incident. Does that fattish pork also killed in this blast? #Rawalpindi https://t.co/yIvJelKfXg
— 7ru7h (@7ru7h_1) June 23, 2019

Allegedly, Jaish-E-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was undergoing treatment in the Rawalpindi Military Hospital when the attack took place. The twitterati claimed that the Pakistani government has enforced a complete blackout on the coverage of the blast to hide Masood Azhar’s presence in the Rawalpindi Military Hospital.

The reports of Masood Azhar being treated at Rawalpindi Military Hospital had also surfaced in March this year. According to the reports, Masood Azhar is suspected to be afflicted with renal failure and has to undergo regular dialysis. According to the reports, Masood Azhar was being treated at an army hospital in Rawalpindi. Hence, Masood Azhar’s presence at the Miltary Hospital cannot be ruled out.

Although the cause of the blast has not been ascertained yet, some people claiming it an attack and others calling it an explosion caused by gas leak. Pakistan media’s complete silence over the issue has further fuelled the rumors.

Pakistani media is notorious for its subservient attitude towards the Military establishment of Pakistan. It is not the first time that Pakistani media would be burying the news negative to the Military. Pakistani media refused to cover the Balakot airstrikes in truthful manner and followed the lead of DGISPR verbatim. Moreover, Pakistani media did not even report the downing of their F-16 fighter jet in February. Wing Commander Abhinandan had shot down the F-16 in the dogfight which had surely claimed the life of its fighter pilot but the Pakistani media conveniently overlooked this fact and denied the downing of Pakistan’s fighter jet. On the number of casualties in Balakot airstrikes, the media also followed DGISPR’s line without questioning even though the Pakistani army had cordoned off the area and had refused media access to the site.

Pakistani media’s conspicuous silence on the alleged blast in Rawalpindi raises some serious question on what the Pakistani military is trying to hide now.